We are saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Bora, the Malayan Sun Bear.
Bora was born in Zoo Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic on 10 April 1993, and then moved to Frankfurt. Eventually, Bora arrived in Belfast Zoo in 1997.
Bora was loved by all the staff and was famous for her fiery temper and strong personality when she was younger. Bora, a diva, would dictate her orders to the other sun bears in her habitat and her keepers. As she grew older, Bora became more relaxed, favouring luxurious items like honey, insects, and her spacious bed, rather than engaging in conflicts and temper outbursts.
Bora was in her senior years and was considered one of the oldest sun bears in European zoos. Bora achieved this impressive age thanks to the attention and care of the animal team at Belfast Zoo. During a routine check-up, it was apparent that her quality of life had significantly deteriorated. Despite additional treatment and intense care from both the keeper and veterinary teams, the hard decision was made to put her to sleep to prevent gradual further decline. The team is deeply saddened by her loss.
There are eight different types of bears globally. Malayan sun bears are the tiniest in the family, yet despite Bora's small stature, she held a big place in the hearts of both visitors and staff.
Malayan sun bears consume insects, fruit, honey, and various sizes of prey animals. Avocado was the treat that Bora loved the most!
The sun bear gets its name from the white and yellow crescent pattern on its chest, which resembles the shape of a sun either rising or setting. Every bear has a unique crest, just like how each human has distinct fingerprints.
Sun Bears are at risk of extinction, and poaching is the primary reason behind their declining numbers. They are sometimes hunted for their fur, but they are more frequently hunted for their meat. Sun Bears are among the most threatened species globally. Sun Bears inhabit regions like Indonesia, and roughly 2,500 remain in the natural habitat. They are closely linked to Red Pandas and possess a lengthy snout and slender skull that is smaller compared to other types of bears.