Wong Siew Te
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 graduated as a Master of Science with the thesis "The ecology of Malayan sun bear in the lowland tropical rainforest of Sabah, Borneo". 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). 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. 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. 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". 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. 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. On September 2016 , Wong received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Sunshine Coast, Australia, in recognition of his lifelong contribution on sun bear conservation in Southeast Asia. Wong's recognitions continue in 2017 when he first was named a "Wira Negaraku" or “My Country Hero” by the Malaysian Prime Minister Office, Federal Government of Malaysia. On July 29, 2017, Wong was name a CNN Hero by global television network CNN.