KWPLH BALIKPAPAN

Balikpapan’s Environmental Education Centre

A GREENER FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION

Balikpapan hosts the one and only Environmental Education Centre in Indonesian Borneo, known by its Indonesian acronym of KWPLH. Development started with a natural enclosure for 5 sun bears (Balikpapan’s mascot), followed by exhibits about bears, the endemic fauna and flora of Borneo, local environmental issues, illegal wildlife trade, and domestic animals. Gardens, a playground, and educational programmes for school children were also developed; not forgetting of course good rubbish management! More than 70,000 people now visit annually free of charge.

Starting 2016, the Balikpapan government can no longer legally fund the centre, so the Pro Natura Foundation entered into a formal agreement with Balikpapan’s Environment Office, under which Pro Natura funds and manages the KWPLH, while trying to secure more sustainable long term funding.

Sun Bear Management

The 1.3 ha forested sun bear enclosure at KWPLH is one of the best in the world. At present , it is home to 7 sun bears [5 males, 2 females] none of whom can be returned to the wild and now serve as ambassadors for their species. The sun bear enclosure remains the prime attraction at the KWPLH. We have an experienced and capable team of bear keepers to care for the bears, but also to maintain the facility, including the electric fence system, to international standards.

Activities:

Provision of fruit, key nutrition, and daily enrichment for the bears;
Maintenance of enclosure, electric fence and bear holding area;
Sun bear keepers [wages, insurance, field clothes etc].

Environmental Education and Awareness

Improving environmental education and awareness among both the general public and school children is a key goal of the KWPLH, and we aim to achieve this directly, through education exhibitions, environmental games, film shows, and a variety of printed materials. We also strive to provide a good example of a clean, rubbish-free, healthy and green environment for more than 70,000 visitors annually.

Activities:

Education staff, and maintenance and development of education exhibits;
Maintenance of facilities, grounds and gardens;
Administration and garbage management.

Stray Animals Management

KWPLH has developed a program for management of stray animals comprising clinic, enclosure, and quarantine buildings, medical care, sterilizations, vacinations, and professional husbandry, but also materials to educate visitors about the difference between domestic and wild animals, and even an adoption programme. Currently, KWPLH is looking after a large number of strays (incl. 150 cats and 30 dogs), but we firmly oppose the irresponsible dumping of animals at the site.

Activities:

Animal care staff;
Food animal care;
Medical supplies, vaccinations, sterilizations;
Facilities maintenance and development;

OPERATION TO SUPPORT KWPLH BALIKPAPAN

Pro Natura Foundation assists with funding and implementation of various aspects of the animal management (health care, food, facility maintenance and new building), as well as development of most education exhibits and facilities at KWPLH Balikpapan.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Sun bear enclosure and bear holding management;
Sun bear education exhibit & visitor facilities;
Veterinary care and medical supplies;
Animal staff, facilities development, equipment;
Animal food/fruit supplies;
Education staff and maintenance information exhibits;
Landscaping, gardens, garbage, facility maintenance;