Wong Siew Te

Wong Siew Te

Wong Siew Te in May 2014.
Born (1969-05-16) 16 May 1969
Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia
Residence Malaysia
Nationality Malaysian
Fields Wildlife Biology
Institutions National Pingtung University of Science and Technology
University of Montana
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Known for Research and rehabilitation of Helarctos malayanus
Logo des Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wong.

Wong Siew Te (born 16 May 1969) is a Malaysian wildlife biologist known for his studies on the Malayan sun bear and the foundation of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sandakan, Sabah.

Biography

Wong Siew Te was born in Bukit Mertajam, Penang on 16 May 1969 as the youngest son of the tailor Wong Soon Kew, who operated the business "Soon Kew Tailor" in Bukit Mertajam from the 1950s to the mid 1980s. He grew up with eight other siblings – four elder brothers and four elder sisters. From 1976 to 1982 he joined Kim Sen Primary School in Bukit Mertajam and from 1982 to 1987 the Jit Sin High School, also in Bukit Mertajam.

He continued his studies 1989 at Taiwan's National Pingtung University of Science and Technology and received his diploma in Animal Science & Veterinary in 1992.

In 1994, he studied Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana where he graduated as a Bachelor of Science in 1997. In 2002, he graduaded as a Master of Science with the thesis The ecology of Malayan sun bear in the lowland tropical rainforest of Sabah, Borneo.[1][2]

From 2002 to 2005 he co-chaired the Sun Bear Expert Team for the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group, a science-based network of voluntary experts within the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).[1]

From 2002 to 2011, he pursued his doctorate in Fish and Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana, and conducted his dissertation entitled The effects of selective logging on bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) in lowland tropical rainforest of Borneo.

In 2008, he founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sepilok, a zoological centre for protection and conservation of the Malayan sun bear. Founded together with the organisation Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), it is a holistic approach to conserve the endangered species.[3][4]

He was also a fellow of the Flying Elephants Foundation, which awards individuals from a broad range of disciplines within the arts and sciences.

Wong Siew Te now manages the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre as CEO.[1][4]

Recognitions

Wong was recognised as a wildlife hero featured in the book Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals They Are Committed to Saving.[5][6]

In conjunction with the Penang State Governor 76th birthday in 2014, Wong Siew Te was conferred Darjah Johan Negeri (D.J.N.; Member- Order of the Defender of State) to recognize his contribution to the society and the environment. This Order was instituted in 1969 and conferred on individuals who have contributed outstanding services in any field. This award is limited to one thousand one hundred and fifty living persons, excluding non-Malaysians who may be conferred this award on an honorary basis.[7]

In the same year, Wong also being awarded the 2014 Outstanding Alumni Award by National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan, for his outstanding achievement in wildlife conservation.

Selected works

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wong Siew Te.

References

  1. 1 2 3 BSBCC: ABOUT SIEW TE WONG, founder & chief executive of BSBCC; accessed 11 June 2014
  2. Siew Te, Wong in: sunbears.wildlifedirect.org: My Curriculum Vitae; accessed 11 June 2014
  3. MESYM: Wong Siew Te, on Conserving Sun Bears in Borneo; accessed 11 June 2014
  4. 1 2 The Star: Sun bears: At home in the forest, 5 May 2014; accessed 11 June 2014
  5. Wildlifedirect: Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals They Are Committed to Saving; accessed 12 June 2014
  6. Julie Scardina, Jeff Flocken: Wildlife Heroes, Running Press, 2012; ISBN 0762443197
  7. The Star: The Penang Yang di-Pertuan Negeri's Birthday Honour List 2014, 2014; accessed 12 October 2015
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