Human-Imposed Threats to the Sun Bears of Borneo

Photo: Freshly killed Sun Bear for its meat and parts…
Credit: Siew Te Wong

Human-Imposed Threats to the Sun Bears of Borneo

Eric Meijard, an ecologist, surveyed the human threats to Sun Bears as part of his three year survey (1994-1997) of Bornean Orangutans. During this three year period, Eric conducted a number of field checks and spent a number of days in the towns and villages of Borneo. In these towns and villages, Eric interviewed the locals about Sun Bears. Via these interviews and his various days in the field, Eric identified a number of human-imposed threats to Bornean Sun Bears. His study identified the Use and Sale of Sun Bear Parts, the Keeping of Sun Bears as Pets, Conflict with Humans and Retaliatory Persecution, Hunting, and Habitat Disappearance as key threat to the survival of Sun Bears. Perhaps his most shocking discovery was the fact that not just Sun Bear parts were being sold in Borneo. During his time there, Eric witnessed the sale of Moon Bear, Sloth Bear, and even Polar Bear gall bladders.
Read more…
http://www.bearbiology.com/fileadmin/tpl/Downloads/URSUS/Vol_11/Meijaard_Vol_11.pdf