There’s an interesting story that appeared on the Donation4Charity radar today….. about scientists at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). They’ve been studying some unprotected areas of Sumatran forests that has recently been allocated to clearance for plantation forest and they’ve discovered that this area is ‘safe-haven’ to a variety of threatened species, including tigers, elephants, tapirs, golden cats, clouded leopards and Malayan sun bears.
And it was the sun bear aspect of the story that particularly caught our notice because the Malayan sun bear (Helarctos Malayanus) is undoubtedly one of the least well known of the eight bear species in the world. Also known as the dog bear or honey bear, after its love of honey, it’s the smallest of the eight bear species – Asiatic black bear, spectacled bear, American black bear, giant panda, sloth bear, polar bear, and brown bear being the rest of the world-bear-list.
The male sun bear weighs in at only between 60-190 pounds with the female of the species weighing about 20% less than the males. Their colouration includes whitish or orange chest mark and muzzle (hence the name “sun bear”). Their jaws are quite striking and disproportionately large to break open hard fruit such as coconuts with a tongue that is extraordinarily long to get insects out of logs.
Anyways, what the ZSL scientists have identified is that the area they’ve been studying, covering nearly 2000 sq. km of degraded, logged and partially settled forest adjacent to Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park in central Sumatra is presently ‘safe-haven’ to sun bears and a bunch of other threatened species, including tigers, elephants, tapirs, golden cats and the extremely secretive natured, clouded leopard. These are listed as endangered species under The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) – the international treaty established in 1975 to control and monitor trading in animals and plants throughout the world.
The Indonesian Government is currently allocating these areas to oil palm, timber plantations and other concessions, all of which have damaging impacts on the environment. If this strategy is not changed, it will result in loss of habitat that is vital to the future of the Sumatran tiger and many other species, including the sun bear.
The survey focused on large mammals and revealed evidence of Sumatran tigers (critically endangered) throughout the area and groups of elephants with calves (endangered) in at least half of the forest as well as several other threatened mammals.
Scientists want the Indonesian government to re-consider how it allocates land for timber companies. “We’re already in discussions with them on the need to change the land-use planning policy – what we’re hoping is this will provide pictorial evidence,” said Dr Sarah Christie, ZSL Carnivore Programme Manager. “Hopefully it will help influence them in the right direction.”
The ZSL has been working in Indonesia for five years and is committed to working with the Government, industry and other NGOs on finding workable solutions to the continuing conflict between economic development and wildlife conservation.
And on behalf of the Helarctos Malayanus (and the rest of the endangered species) – we at Donation4Charity, wish them much success in their endeavours.
