This is an animal almost mystical by reputation, a huge, jungle dwelling herbivore which is so reclusive that even the scientists who study them must rely on camera traps, footprints and dung for their data. Their horns are alleged to be an aphrodisiac making them a notorious target for poachers, but this is not the only threat to their existence. Habitat loss is the usual scapegoat for declining populations of wildlife but in the case of the Sumatran Rhinoceros there may also be other factors at work. I am told that rhinos...

Above is a concept design image for a sun bear conservation centre proposed adjacent to the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary at Sandakan in Sabah. Juvenile sun bears are undeniably cute and the adults are very handsome. Fully grown they would be a little above my knee in height, although rearing on hind legs they can be much more intimidating. Regrettably I have only seen them behind bars. The closest I have come to a wild sun bear was when I heard one raiding the kitchen during the night at Agathis Camp in Maliau Basin. Sun...