Saving Sun Bears: One man's quest to save a species

An inspirational story of one man’s quest to save sun bears from extinction.

In Asia, adult sun bears are poached for body parts which are thought to have medicinal properties. Orphaned cubs are kept illegally as pets. Natural habitat is disappearing fast. Malaysian ecologist Dr Wong Siew Te, or ‘papa bear’, is trying to save sun bears from extinction. His quest takes him from Malaysia to Taiwan, where he studies animal husbandry; to Montana, where he learns to trap grizzly bears; and on to Borneo to research bears in the dense rainforest. Wong struggles to raise funds to create a unique rescue centre for sun bears, and in 2017 he is acknowledged as a CNN Hero—proving one person can make a difference.

Australian author Dr Sarah Pye takes readers on a journey of discovery, introducing individual sun bears she has come to know: Natalie, who learns to survive without her mother; Bongkud, who is struck by lightning; Gutuk, who is too scared to go outside; and Debbie, who grabs her chance at freedom. 

Saving Sun Bears is Wong’s story—and theirs.