MARANG – A retired teacher can now breathe a sigh of relief when the wild sun bear that has been digging into and destroying his honeybee log hives for almost three weeks was finally captured after it entered trap set by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) early today.
Ali Yusof, 61, from Kg Pengkalan Berangan here, said he has suffered the loss of almost RM10,000 worth of honey after 16 log hives he built in his backyard were destroyed by the sun bear, which is also known as the honey bear for its love of honey.
“I bought the log hives at prices between RM500 and RM800 each, but I can’t even sell the honey as it was all savoured by the bear.
“Apart from the log hives, the bear had also destroyed most of the villagers’ coconut trees. It is good that after I lodged a report on January 28, a Perhilitan team quickly set up the trap and managed to capture the animal,” he told reporters when met here today.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Perhilitan director Abdul Malek Mohd Yusof said the male sun bear weighing about 70kg is believed to have come from the nearby forest.
“Apart from the one in Kg Pengkalan Berangan, we also captured another male sun bear weighing 80kg in Kg Batu Tiong, Dungun, at 10.30pm yesterday.
“The bear entered the trap set up by our team on Sunday. These sun bears are the first two captured by Terengganu Perhilitan this year,” he told Bernama when contacted.
Malek also advised all villagers not to take matters into their own hands if they stumble upon any wildlife, but to report it immediately to Perhilitan for further action.
“The two sun bears will be released in a suitable habitat in the Terengganu National Park soon,” he added. – Bernama, February 2, 2021
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