Kota Kinabalu: The Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host, the oldest Lions club in Sabah, is commemorating its 55th anniversary with a special wildlife conservation project.
Anniversary organising chairperson Nenita Tan said the club is adopting Kina, a five-year-old sun bear, that is now under rehabilitation at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), in Sandakan.
“This is the first time for the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host as well as any Lions Club in Sabah to adopt a wildlife,” Nenita told the Daily Express, here, Thursday.
“We chose this project as we think more have to be done to generate public awareness on sun bears. In fact, the project is close to my heart as I am a wildlife photographer.”
The adoption obliges KK Host to paying a fixed RM600 monthly contribution that goes toward the caring for Kina. Upon rehabilitation, Kina will be released back to the wild.
Nenita said the project is only a beginning of the club’s efforts in helping to conserve nature.
“Maybe in future, we would also look into projects that are related to nature conservation,” she said.
Club President Francis Liew, who is also former Sabah Parks Deputy Director, said they are starting with a small deed to the conservation efforts before venturing further.
“This project is part of our contribution to nature conservation… a well-managed and conserved flora and fauna in Sabah would also boost the tourism industry as visitors come here to experience them.”
Meanwhile, Liew said the club’s anniversary will be celebrated, here, on Aug 20 and it will be graced by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his wife Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni.
“The club was chartered in 1966. It had to put off the 55th anniversary celebration last year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“For the celebration, aside from lion members from local clubs, those of KK Host’s sister clubs in Indonesia, Japan and Singapore are also expected to attend.
“We are honoured that the Head of State, who is also the Patron of our club, has graciously accepted our invitation.
“His attendance will certainly add pomp and significance to our anniversary and motivate us in continuing with our service to the community as a pioneer Lions club in this region.”
The BSBCC is the only sun bear conservation centre in the world. It was founded in 2008 with two aims – to provide care and rehabilitation for rescued sun bears and to increase awareness of sun bears internationally.
The mission of the Centre is to promote sun bear conservation in Borneo through animal welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, education and research - giving captured sun bears a better home and restoring their right to live in the wild.
Malayan sun bears are the smallest bears in the world and are only found in Southeast Asia.
These bears continue to be threatened by forest degradation, illegal hunting for bear parts and poaching to obtain young cubs for pet trade.
The results of these threats has caused young sun bears found to be living in unnatural captive conditions in Sabah, with no access to outdoor areas.
The facility includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment suited to the needs and welfare of the sun bears and facilitate their rehabilitation back into the wild.
In 2014, the Centre opens to the public. Visitors can learn about sun bears and observe them in their natural habitat.
Kina, the female sun bear adopted by the KK Host was found in Kinarut by a passerby who kept it is a pet before surrendering it to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
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