Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are the smallest bears in the world, about the size of a large dog, with a cream crescent on the chest that gives them their name. They are the most arboreal of all bears, they eat termites, honey, fruit and figs, and across Southeast Asia they are losing forest and being taken as cubs for the pet trade. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre was set up in Sepilok in 2008 by the wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te after a survey found Sabah's captive sun bears living in cages and back yards. It opened to visitors in 2014 and now houses around 44 rescued ex-captive bears, with more released or in pre-release camps in Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

What the visit is like

You enter through the shared main gate with the orangutan centre, turn right, and climb a short steep path to the visitor building. From there a boardwalk leads to two elevated observation platforms that look down into forested enclosures. The bears are not caged in the zoo sense; they're in fenced forest, and they climb. You might see one twenty metres up a tree, one digging in a log, and two sparring on the ground at the same time. A staff member is always on the platform to answer questions, and the signboards are unusually good, in several languages, covering behaviour, diet, threats and the centre's releases.

There's no feeding show as such; keepers scatter food through the day to encourage foraging. Mid-morning is the most active period, which fits neatly between the 10:00 orangutan feeding and the 12:00 lunch closure next door. Allow an hour; ninety minutes if you read everything and wait for the bears to move.

Opening hours and fees

Why it's worth it

Visitor reviews split predictably: the orangutans are the reason people came, and the sun bears are the thing they didn't expect to love. The enclosures are large and natural, sightings are close to guaranteed because there are many bears and they're active climbers — see the surest wildlife sighting in Sabah — and the conservation story is told clearly rather than sold. If you have a photographer in the group, this is the easier shot; bears on trunks ten metres away beat orangutans at the far end of a crowded platform.

Best time to visit

Come between 09:00 and 11:30. Bears are most active in the cooler morning; by early afternoon many are asleep in nests or hammocks, which is pleasant but less dramatic. Weekdays are quieter than weekends, when Sandakan families and school groups come. The dry months (March to October) mean a drier boardwalk, but the centre is open and the bears are visible in any month.

Getting here

Identical to the orangutan centre: same gate, same car park, same RM6 "Batu 14 Sepilok" bus from Sandakan, same 20-minute taxi from the airport. See how to get to Sepilok. If you're walking from a Sepilok resort, it's 5 to 20 minutes along the reserve road.

The conservation work

BSBCC works with the Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Department on four fronts: welfare for rescued bears, rehabilitation and release (the first releases into Tabin Wildlife Reserve began in 2015), research into sun bear ecology, and public education, including Sabah's ten-year Bornean Sun Bear Action Plan. You can adopt a bear or donate on the website, and Malaysian schools can apply for fee waivers. For the ethics of the Sepilok centres, honestly assessed, see is visiting Sepilok ethical? Dr Wong is often on site; if he's on the platform, ask him anything.

Frequently asked

Is there a feeding time?

No fixed public feeding. Food is spread through the enclosures during the day; mornings are most active.

Can I do it on the same ticket as the orangutans?

No. Separate organisations, separate tickets. Tours bundle both.

How long does it take?

An hour is enough; ninety minutes if the bears are busy.

Will I see bears?

Almost certainly. There are around forty in the enclosures and the platforms overlook several at once.