Rising with the Sun: Protecting Borneo’s Sun Bears

In the dense lowland forests of East Kalimantan, the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) moves quietly among the towering dipterocarp trees. Recognized by the golden crescent mark on its chest, said to resemble the rising sun, it is the smallest and least-known of the world’s eight bear species, and the only one found in Indonesia.

Despite its modest size, the Sun Bear plays a vital role in maintaining tropical forest health. It is an omnivore with a diverse diet that includes fruits, insects, honey, and small vertebrates. By tearing into termite nests, breaking decayed logs, and digging for insects, Sun Bears help aerate the soil, spread seeds, and create microhabitats used by countless forest species. In doing so, they act as ecosystem engineers, ensuring the forest continues to breathe and regenerate.

However, across Borneo, Sun Bears are facing serious threats. Deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade have caused their populations to decline drastically. Though adaptable, they cannot survive the rapid loss of forest cover. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is fully protected under Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 106/2018.

This is where the Conservation Action Network (CAN Borneo) comes in, an organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of wildlife and forests through science, collaboration, and community-based action.

At the Long Sam Wildlife Rescue Center (PPS Long Sam) in Merasa Village, East Kalimantan, CAN Borneo works with the Ministry of Forestry and BKSDA East Kalimantan to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide lifelong care for confiscated and displaced wildlife, including Sun Bears. Each rescued bear, such as Simon, one of the individuals currently under CAN’s care, undergoes veterinary health checks, behavioral rehabilitation, and preparation for potential reintroduction to the wild.

The Long Sam Rescue Centre is part of a larger conservation landscape that includes Sangkulirang–Mangkalihat, Menyapa Lesan, and Sungai Sambas, where CAN Borneo safeguards more than 226,000 hectares of critical habitat. Through its Save–Restore–Protect–Sustain model, CAN not only rescues wildlife but also restores over 1,300 hectares of degraded forest, creating ecological corridors that allow species like the Sun Bear to thrive.

Every claw mark left on a tree, every overturned log, and every sprouting seed tells a story of regeneration, one that CAN Borneo is helping to write. Protecting the Sun Bear is not just about saving a species, it is about securing the intricate balance of life that defines Borneo’s forests.

Support the work. Protect the forests. Let the Sun Bear continue to rise in the heart of Borneo

The distinctive golden crescent on a Sun Bear’s chest gives the species its name, a mark as bright as the morning sun breaking through Borneo’s forests.

A rescued Sun Bear arrives at the Long Sam Wildlife Rescue Center, where each individual begins a new journey toward recovery and hope.