Caring for orphan cub Andrea
Our main project for 2025 is to build a Baby House for incoming sun bear cubs at the sanctuary of BOS Samboja Lestari, in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sun bear cubs need to feel their mother’s presence at all times and they experience stress when left alone. Therefore, when a new orphan cub arrives at the centre we give it 24-hour care and allow him or her to spend as much time as possible in the forest. Currently, by lack of proper facilities, we have the cubs staying in the same room as the person caring for them, which becomes difficult to manage as the cubs get older and begin breaking into everything they can get their claws on. Having a Baby House designed for cubs and keeper to live under the same roof, but with distinct quarters, would allow the cubs to stay with their foster parent 24/7 for as long as necessary, ensuring they feel secure and supported throughout their growing up.
As I write these lines on 9 December 2025, the baby house construction is complete and all that is left to do is to finish furnishing it. Mia, the sun bear cub now going through “forest school”, is spending her nights there since 11 November.
Baby House – September 2025 (wip))
Baby House – November 2025 (finished)