Two sun bears receive second chance to live in the wild

Two sun bear cubs rescued from illegal trade in Indonesia are being taught the skills required to live in the wild by dedicated human carers.

Mano and Henri were very young, destined for a depressing life in captivity far from home, when their lives took a turn for the better.

Acting on a tip off, JAAN Indonesia and the Indonesian police intercepted an illegal trade deal that would have seen poachers ship Mano from Indonesia to Dubai. Rescued from a car in Jakata and only three months old, she weighed just over two kilograms.

Henri was rescued by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry from owners who were keeping the seven-month-old alone in a cage, most likely destined for a similar fate to Mano. Now also in the care of JAAN Indonesia, Henri is being taught basics such as how to climb a tree and find food.

JAAN's rehabilitation of both bears is supported by IFAW.

IFAW's Program Director, Wildlife Rescue Neil Greenwood said sun bears are the world’s smallest and most vulnerable bear species.

"Illegal wildlife trade, along with forest degradation, are the main causes for the decline of sun bears in their habitat. We work with JAAN and Indonesian authorities to ensure animals confiscated in Illegal trade receive the best care, and support JAAN's rehabilitation efforts. The ultimate end goal is to reintroduce these animals back into the wild, where they will be a valuable part of the population.”

JAAN’s co-founder Femke den Haas said it was important that rehabilitation with both Mano and Henri started immediately as neither bear had the opportunity to learn vital survival skills from their mothers.

“Mano has been with us for six months now. She has two dedicated carers, who take turns to look after her 24/7, just as her mother would have. When she first arrived, she needed milk every two hours, then as she grew, we built a special enclosure for her so she could learn how to climb and find food such as termites.

“Last November she graduated to our Forest School, where her carers spend all day with her as she explores the treetops, and then sleep beside her enclosure at night. Mano is now starting to fold leaves to make a nest in trees, which is a very positive sign,” Femke said.

The next phase of Mano’s rehabilitation will be to fit her with a GPS tracker and release her deep in a national park, away from any potential harm.

Henri was seven months old when he came to JAAN, and as he had only ever known life in a small cage with a concrete floor, he has been slower to learn than Mano. Since October Henri’s carers have been patiently teaching him skills such as how to climb trees, crack a coconut and find crickets.

“Henri and Mano bonded when they were in the same custom-built enclosure late last year, but unfortunately Henri still has much to learn so we couldn’t take him to Forest School with Mano,” Femke said.

He is improving though and Femke is still hopeful that one day he will have learnt enough survival skills that he can also be fitted with a GPS tracker and released into the national park, in partnership with the Ministry of Forestry and Environment.

“We have worked alongside JAAN through many projects, disrupting wildlife trafficking networks, training law enforcement teams and rehabilitating wildlife,” IFAW’s Neil Greenwood said.

“Providing monthly care costs for Mano and Henri and their GPS collars speaks to our work in finding a holistic solution to wildlife crime and its impact and providing care and welfare to those animals directly affected.”

ENDS

Press contact:

Jen Walker, IFAW
jwalker@ifaw.org | (61) 460 432 901

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - IFAW is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org

About JAAN - JAAN is a non-profit organisation that strives to reduce animal suffering and provide them better living conditions. We believe that no animal deserves cruelty and no wild animal should spend its life in captivity. At JAAN, we envision a world where all animals are treated with compassion and respect. Our mission is to protect animals from cruelty and exploitation, and to promote animal welfare through proactive measures and community involvement. We believe that education and awareness are key to driving change and fostering a society that values and protects its animal inhabitants.