Sun Bear Assistant (2 week)

Sun Bear Assistant is a project that targets animal welfare and conservation issues in a sustainable manner. This project is driven by local needs and priorities in accordance with Conservation and Responsible Volunteering guidelines whilst ensuring that the volunteer plays an active part and gains a meaningful experience. It is based out of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre better known as BSBCC, approximately 19km from Sandakan town. It is located next to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and is also linked to existing forest trails and boardwalks. The project will take 14days and you will have 2 days off which give you plenty of time to explore Sandakan and its surrounding areas. The aim of this project is to have you work with the Malaysian bear keepers to improve conditions of the sun bears living at the centre. These sun bears have been rescued from poachers or have been kept illegally as pets. This project will also allow you a chance to learn more about sun bears, their need for enrichment as well as the whole rehabilitation process. At BSBCC, your role is to assist the keepers in their daily jobs of cleaning cages, compounds, feeding the bears and preparing enrichment activities for them. Basically, take care of the animals from husbandry, enrichment, construction and education as a bear keeper assistant would. You will learn about the personalities of the various sun bears and their role in the larger web of life in the wild. Interacting with the Malaysian keepers by working alongside them allows you to understand the conditions they work in, gain insight into the “behind the scenes” of working in a conservation centre and a chance to improve living conditions of sun bears in BSBCC. Moreover while you work alongside the keepers, you will have the opportunity to learn some Malay (and other local dialects) and help improve their English too. Currently, the centre houses more than 40 bears in night dens and forest enclosures spanning 1.14 hectares of natural forest surrounding the centre. Bears roam the forest enclosures during the day (and night) displaying lots of natural behaviours such as climbing, hiding and digging. In order to maintain a sustainable system for the sun bears a lot of effort has been done by the staff and also the volunteers. This project will give you an amazing experience in the same time you gained more knowledge about Sun Bears and it’s ecology.

Work starts at 0800 with cleaning, preparing food and checking on facilities. There will be an hour break at 1230 for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, volunteers will help in designing or making enrichment for the sun bears. The activities for the day vary based on the schedule prepared by the BSBCC team.

All volunteers will stay in a longhouse styled accommodation. Twin-share room with bunk bed and fan. Shared toilets and bathrooms. There is a common sitting area and an equipped kitchen with a few basic items including fridge and gas stove where you may prepare your meals.

The longhouse styled accommodation is part of Paganakan Dii, a tropical retreat designed as a contemporary interpretation of traditional stilts houses with innovative use of natural and recycled materials, the entire compound offers the most surprising of details in its construction and breathtaking views from every angle. There is a cafe on site as well as a kitchen should you wish to cook your own meals. Volunteers are required to maintain good hygiene at all times. No alcohol is allowed at the accommodation area. Beers can be consumed at the lodge cafe off working hours only. Please do not bring them back to your rooms or the kitchen area.

Project facilitator will be assisting you throughout the project

Travel between Sandakan and city of origin (flight tickets, bus fares etc), travel insurance, personal travel on days off and personal incidentals etc