The Riau Province Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) received a rare species of sun bear, from residents of Bunut District, Pelalawan Regency, Friday (27/11/2020).
One of the BBKSDA Riau veterinarians, Rini Deswita said, the bear's age is about 4 years.

Male sex, and placed in the transit cage BKKSDA Riau Province, Jalan Soebrantas, Pekanbaru.

"Currently in the transit cage there is a male sun bear, approximately 4 years old, which is a handover from the people of Bunut District, Pelalawan Regency," said Rini.

He said, in the meantime, his party would take care of the bear first,
And ensure the condition until it is completely ready to be released in nature.

"For a while being treated here first, until he returns to physical health, then we also see his behavior, before being released into nature, we will evaluate again," he added.
Seeing the current condition of the bear, said Rini, it is possible that his party did not take care of the bear for too long.

Therefore, when it is confirmed that the condition is good, it will immediately be released.

"If the bear's health condition is good enough, his movements are agile, we take care of him here and make sure he is healthy, then we also confirm his ability to survive in nature. If it is good, and possible, we will evaluate it and release it to nature immediately. "he said.

Endangered animals

Sun bears are protected wildlife under Law no. 5 of 1990 and also the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number P.106 / MENLHK / SETJEN / KUM.1 / 12/2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals.

Based on CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species],
Sun bears have been included in Appendix I since 1979 which means they are not allowed to be hunted. Since 1994, its status has been categorized as Vulnerable [VU], indicating that it is facing three steps towards extinction in the wild.

The sun bear [Helarctos malayanus] is the mascot of Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan.
The distribution is in the eastern tip of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sumatra and Kalimantan.
The residents hand over the sun bear, a protected wildlife to the Conservation Office