28 | March• 2019
EVERYDAY HEROES
checks on the bears and generally
makesallsortsofdecisionsthat
come with running an animal sanc-
tuary.Thejobisdifficultbutreward-
ing.“PeopleaskmewhyIdothis,”
headmits.“Idon’texpectthebears
torepaymeorpaymysalary.Idoit
becauseIwanttohelpthem.When
thebearsarehappy,I’mhappy,too.
TherealityisI’mstillinawarzone.
It is good that we are established and
have a relatively good network, but
our job is not done yet. We still have
alotofthingstodoifwereallywant
to save the sun bears.”
That’s why awards such as the 2017
CNN Hero from the global television
network, which he received for his
dedication in protecting the sun bears,
give him a boost to keep going despite
the challenges.
“It strengthens my belief that I’m
doing the right thing for society,” he
says. My value is really in trying to im-
prove the lives of the animals and to
build a better world.”
The media coverage that he has
received also helps him spread his
conservation message. He’s also
done interviews with school chil-
dren from Japan, Hong Kong and
even Argentina. “This is a very posi-
tive thing that inspires the younger
generation,” he says.THE NEXT STEP
Inanytrade,thereneedstobesup-
ply and demand, and the same is
true in the illegal wildlife trade.traders to peddle products such as
gall bladders, bear paws and claws
online, using technology to expedite
the transaction.
“As long as people are willing to buy
these things, there will be somebody
willing to supply them,” Wong says.
STARTING YOUNG
As a young boy growing up in Penang,
in northern Peninsula Malaysia, Wong
came to an early realisation that he
loved animals. As a five year old, he
remembers his parents bringing sick
baby sparrows to care for, after they’d
fallen out of their nests. He nursed
them back to health.
And for as long as he could remem-
ber,hisambitionwastobeananimal
expert.“IknewwhatIwantedtodo
sinceIwasverylittle,”hesays.“Iwas
determined and my ambition never
changed.”
After initial studies in Taiwan, in
1994 Wong went to the University
of Montana in the US to study wild-
life biology. There he met his future
advisor, Christopher Servheen, who
was looking for a Malaysian student
to do a study on sun bears. This pro-
ject set him on his life’s path. After his
undergraduate studies, Wong contin-
ued with a Master’s degree, studying
the ecology of sun bears in a Bornean
rainforest for his thesis. Following
that, he did his doctorate.
Fastforwardalmosttwodecades
andWongregularlyputsin18-hour
days at the centre. He gives talks,