On the 9th day of Borneo Youth Leadership Camp 2023, participants are heading to Balikpapan to visit some places in order to introduce them to East Kalimantan wildlife, such as seeing Sun Bear, exploring mangrove conservation areas, and spending nights at Bangkirai Hills. We’re heading to Sun Bear Conservation Centre as the first stop, luckily we were on time to see the sun bears due to their feeding time.  

Some participants actively asked the guide, what is the name of the sun bears, what they eat, and many more. The guide also actively answered the questions given by participants. As the feeding time of the sun bears is already over, the participants are also moving to other areas of the enclosure to see the activity of sun bears, some sun bears are caught sleeping, and others are looking for other foods. After seeing the sun bears in the enclosure, the guide directed participants to the information center on sun bears. There is so much information about the sun bears, the sun bears distribution in the world, the evolution of sun bears, what sun bears eat, and much more. The activities end with a question and answer session in a gazebo-like building called “Lamin” and getting lunch and playing some games while waiting for lunchtime there before we head to the next place. 

For the next place, we’re going to the Mangrove Center in Graha Indah, Balikpapan. It’s managed and self-funded by the local community, initiated by Mr. Gus Bei. He tells the history of the Mangrove Center Graha Indah, opens the question and answers session, introduces the mangrove nursery area, and lets us have a mangrove ride using a boat, but he tells us to wait until the water level is rising. 

We’re heading to Bangkirai Hills after our activity ends in the Mangrove Center. Due to road conditions, we arrived at Bangkirai Hills around 9 PM, which is a late dinner, but the participants seemed to enjoy it. That’s the wrap for the first day!

(ISB/AYN)