At noon, the summer heat in Borneo evaporates, and sunlight falls through the layers of tree crowns. A small and shiny bear curled up among the branches and leaves, avoiding the afternoon heat. Not far away, another bear stretched out its sharp claws and repeatedly scratched the tree trunk, occasionally looking around... These little ones are Malay bears, and their home is the Borneo Malay Bear Conservation Center located on the outskirts of Sandakan, a city on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia in northern Borneo. The Malay bear was once widely distributed in Borneo, Indochina, Sumatra and other places, but now its distribution area has severely retreated and is relatively fragmented. It is reported that among the 8 species of bear family animals worldwide, the Malay bear has the smallest body size and is also the best at climbing. Their orange yellow stripes on their chests resemble the light reflected by the rising sun from behind the mountains, hence they are also known as' sun bears'. They are really special. ”Bradford, a tourist from the UK, stood at the observation deck and whispered softly. In the past few decades, due to deforestation leading to continuous habitat destruction, rampant illegal hunting activities, and repeated illegal captive breeding, the number of wild Malay bears has continued to decline. At present, the Malay bear has been listed as a vulnerable species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Malay bears play an important role in tropical rainforest ecosystems. In the wild, they feed on wild durian, rambutan, etc. The undigested seeds are scattered in the forest with excrement, helping the seeds stay away from the mother tree and thus increasing their survival rate. They dig termite nests to feed, effectively control the number of termites, and also flip the soil during the foraging process to promote nutrient cycling in the forest. They are truly "forest doctors" and "forest farmers". Due to its unique biological properties, conservation significance, and ecological value, the Malay bear has gradually entered the public eye in recent years. Malaysia has chosen the Malay bear as the mascot for the "2026 Malaysia Tourism Year", hoping to showcase the country's rich biodiversity and raise public awareness of wildlife conservation. The Borneo Malay Bear Conservation Center, established in 2008, is the only institution in the world dedicated to the protection and restoration of Malay bears. Huang Xiude, founder and CEO of the conservation center, has been engaged in Malay bear research and conservation since 1998. The Malay bear was once a forgotten species, "Huang Xiude recalled. In the early years, there was almost no systematic research on Malay bears, and people didn't even understand how much forest space they needed or what they ate. The childcare center began operating in 2008. In 2010, the first bear enclosure and forest outdoor area were completed, and 12 rescued Malay bears were resettled. Nowadays, larger forest outdoor areas are gradually being built, and conservation centers are gradually forming a work system centered on animal welfare, restoration plans, ecological education, scientific research, and ecotourism. Currently, more than 40 Malay bears live here. Walking deep into the childcare center, a display board attracts people to stop and take a look. Rudy, the little one who can't calm down. It was rescued and brought to the conservation center in 2022. Despite its small size, it always runs around full of energy. "" Kina, with a bad temper. It was once kept as a pet in captivity and was sent to the conservation center in 2017. It is good at identifying wild food and has a super good stomach but is also very protective of food. "" Noah, the disguiser. It was initially mistaken for a dog by the villagers, but after arriving at the conservation center in 2016, it likes to explore everything around it. "These brief introductions record the process of each Malay bear from being captured and kept in captivity to relearning" how to be a 'qualified' little bear. Huang Xiude admitted that long-term captivity not only affects the physical development of Malay bears, but also has a profound impact on their behavior and personality. Many previously captive Malay bears become overly dependent on humans and even develop a desire to perform. The conservation center provides rehabilitation training for these illegally captured or raised Malay bears, helping them regain their instincts and adapt to nature, from foraging, climbing trees to building nests, gradually allowing individuals with the conditions to return to the forest. At the same time, it also provides long-term care for Malay bears that cannot return to the wild. ”Huang Xiude said. As of now, the conservation center has escorted more than ten Malay bears back to nature, allowing them to live again in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve with less human interference. Huang Xiude also said that the original intention of establishing the conservation center was to protect the Malay bear species in a practical way. China's experience in the protection of endangered wildlife such as giant pandas is worth learning from, and we hope to cooperate with China in the future. (New Society)