BORNEO

HOW IT CAME TO BE: If you know Chris Morgan (Bear Ecologist, The Wild, Beartrek) you know he's spectacular. You also know that any introduction he makes for you will be equally wonderful, and you should say 'yes' to anything he suggests. We were chatting the other day and he said, "You're close, go to Borneo and see my friend Wong! He does incredible work with Sun Bears!"

So, that's how Malaysian Borneo began... With Dr. Wong Si Tiew, and Sun Bears. It ended however, better than I could have imagined!

LOCATION: SABAH, BORNEO, MALAYSIA

FOCUS: Wildlife Conservation, Reforestation, and Sun Bears.

LOCAL PARTNERS: The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center, and Animal Projects & Environmental Education Sdn. Bhd. (APE Malaysia)

TOTAL DONATED:  $10,000.00+ for Sun Bear awareness and enclosure upgrades, and reforestation along the Kinabatangan River.

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Dr. Wong was everything I expected - smart, dedicated, and immensly interesting. He's the Jane Goodall of Sun Bears, and I learned so much about their threats, and how his advocacy has changed the outlook for them.

Sun Bears are still under immense pressure, but through Dr. Wong's work, there are a few brightspots of hope.

Once nearly forgotten, in Borneo they are now celebrated, and plastered all over Malaysian Airplanes as a huge tourist draw. The government finally sees them as a valuable way to bring tourists to Borneo. That's all because of Wong. Truly a testament as to what one man with some passion can accomplish.

What a gift to spend some time with him, and if you're in Borneo, that should be your first stop!

Who knew there'd be a phase two?

Although I went to Borneo to meet Wong, I decided to do a wildlife tour, and try to see Borneo's big five - the Orangutan, Proboscous Monkey, the Pygmy Elephant, Saltwater Crocodile, and the Rhinocerous Hornbill.

I asked my Grab (Uber) driver if he knew of a boat guide to take me along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, and he just happened to have a recommendation - Musarapa Amit.

"Mus" picked me up on the banks of the Kinabatangan and we set out to see the animals. A few days of sheer bliss, humming along the top of the river, being drenched in the rain, and warmed by the sun - seeing every one of the big five. It was beyond a dream.

Mus and I became fast friends, and as we were getting to know each other, I asked if he only drove a boat or if there was something else? He replied that his main job is working with a reforestation group called APE Malaysia. My ears perked up - really? Tell me more! "Would you like to see our planting sites?" YES!

So our little boat headed down the river as we explored their sites. One stood out to me and grabbed my imagination. In the 80's, the government passed a law to preserve 50 meters along the river as a wildlife corridor, a protected area, as the region was being deforested at an alarming rate to plant trees for palm oil.

The law went into effect, but had a clause that allowed for current structures to remain - sort of grandfathering them in, as the forest was being destroyed right up to that 50 meter line.

One of APE Malaysia's sites was right up to the fence of one such plantation, that as the forest was destroyed around it, became a complete bottleneck for wildlife. A forest to the east and a forest to the west, but now they were cut off from each other, all because of one small 2 acre plantation.

"I want to plant a tree here, Mus, because I have a dream for here - we'll come back tomorrow!"

We went back the next day and planted a tree, an as my mind continues to percolate and plot and plan, I'll keep you up to date as soon I get any movement. When I see something I want, I'm like a dog with a rag and I won't put it down until it's ripped from me.

So... I'm still vigourously working toward something - and will let you know as soon as I have ANY solid news.