Just like orangutans, Malayan sun bears are in grave danger of extinction due to the rapidly increasing deforestation occurring in much of Borneo, primarily due to the growth of the Palm Oil industry.
Unfortunately, just like orangutans, sun bears are also victims of the illegal pet trade throughout South East Asia. In addition, they are victims of the bitterly cruel black market trade for the bile found in their gall bladders. Bear bile is very much prized in Asian medicine and very much in demand. The high black market price for bear gall bladders means that many sun bears are butchered in the wild for their bladders or taken to illegal “Bear Bile Farms” where they are “milked” using invasive and painful procedures.
While little Selina, the Sun Bear, has not faced the atrocities of a “Bear Bile Farm,” she is fighting her own personal battle every day simply to survive. Little Selina came to Orangutan Foundation International’s (OFI) Care Centre and Quarantine facilities in October 2014 after being surrendered to Indonesian government authorities by her owner.
Apparently Selina had been taken from her mother when she was only 10 days old, not even yet old enough to open her little grey-blue eyes.
Soon after Selina’s arrival, it became apparent that this little bear was very unwell. Through further medical tests, OFI veterinarians discovered that Selina required major surgery to help correct the bone structure of her pelvis and to stabilize and de-constrict her digestive system in order to help save her life. Each time little Selina eats or defecates, she is in massive pain! She is the size of a bear cub less than half her own age because it is so difficult for her to eat and digest food.
Without surgery, little Selina will struggle to eat, pass faeces, and even move and climb. Without surgery, Selina faces an early death.
OFI’s staff and dedicated volunteers are doing all they can on a daily basis to make Selina’s life more comfortable but surgery is vitally important to her future health, well-being, and survival.
Little Selina desperately needs our help.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help fund Selina’s surgery, crucial to her survival, please click on the link below.
If little Selina could speak, she would surely thank you from the bottom of her little heart.