English (US) ▾
Nederlands
English (UK)
Deutsch
Italiano
Português
Español
Sun Bear Conservation Volunteering Project, Malaysia
Volunteering Solutions offers a 2-week short-term program at the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia, where participants will help improve the living conditions of sun bears. Volunteers engage in tasks such as cleaning the bears' dens and creating enrichment activities, while learning about the rehabilitation process and release of these animals into the wild.
This program places you at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre near Sandakan, Sabah, on the island of Borneo. Day to day you help care for sun bears in rehabilitation: cleaning dens, preparing enrichment items, assisting with small construction and maintenance projects around the enclosures, and supporting the center's education work with visiting school groups. There is no direct contact with the bears; all animal-related tasks are carried out under staff instruction. The program suits anyone 18 or older who is fit, flexible, and comfortable with practical, sometimes repetitive outdoor work.
The program runs for 2 weeks, with monthly starts (next start 5 Oct 2026). You stay in shared volunteer longhouse accommodation with basic kitchen facilities, and receive a daily meal allowance to cover your food. The cost starts at $1,594, deposit included ($249). What sets this project apart is the focus on one of the world's smallest bear species, with hands-off work centered on habitat improvement, enrichment design, and rehabilitation support rather than direct animal handling.
- Volunteer for Sun-Bear Conservation Center in Malaysia
- Learn more about the animals, their lives and how to conserve their natural habitat
- Volunteers contribute in construction and renovation work, animal care, habitat conservation efforts and welfare
- Volunteers work for some of the smallest bears in the world
- Volunteers work on weekdays, weekends are free to explore around the country with fellow volunteers
Your role on this program
- Clean sun bear dens and enclosures as part of daily animal husbandry
- Help feed the bears, rotating between different animals depending on their needs
- Design and prepare enrichment items to stimulate natural behavior, then observe their effectiveness
- Assist with small construction and renovation projects on night dens and enclosures
- Carry out general maintenance work such as painting exhibits and facilities
- Talk to school groups and visitors at the center's education hub about sun bears and conservation
- Update the center's blog, prepare displays, or enter data for Bear Behavior and Weekly Records
Exact duties vary with the placement's needs, the season and your experience.
Role boundaries
You do not have direct contact with the sun bears; any work near the animals is carried out under the instruction and supervision of the center's staff and project coordinator. You do not make decisions about an animal's care, rehabilitation, or release, and construction or maintenance tasks are guided by the center's team. Duties may vary with the placement's needs depending on season, school calendar, and the center's priorities at the time.
A typical day and week
Day 1 – Arrival at Sandakan Airport and transfer to accommodation. Meet all your fellow volunteers during the Welcome dinner. A short Briefing Session will be held on this day.
Day 2 – Transfer to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Orientation Session, details about the place, safety tour of the center.
Day 3 to Day 13 – Project work at the Center. Work hours: From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (with a lunch break in between).
You’ll have 2 days off , to explore by yourself!
Day 14 – Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport.
Timings are the placement's usual pattern; the local team confirms your hours at orientation, and they can change with school terms, clinic rotas, weather and the project's needs.
Program itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival at Sandakan Airport and transfer to accommodation. Meet all your fellow volunteers during the Welcome dinner. A short Briefing Session will be held on this day.
Day 2 - Transfer to Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Orientation Session, details about the place, safety tour of the center.
Day 3 to Day 13 - Project work at the Center. Work hours: From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (with a lunch break in between).
You’ll be free on the weekends, to explore by yourself!
Day 14 - Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport.
Who can join and what you need
- Minimum age 18
- Fit and healthy at the time of joining the program
- Doctor's letter confirming freedom from tuberculosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and tetanus, dated within 6 months of the project start
- Open, flexible attitude toward practical outdoor work in a new environment
- Completion of an online interview with the local team before your application is confirmed
- Valid passport and travel/medical insurance, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions
- CV or application details as requested during the selection process
The placement, its limits and your part in it
The placement is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre near Sandakan, where local staff run the day-to-day rehabilitation of sun bears and oversee every task volunteers are assigned. An English-speaking project coordinator manages your schedule, delivers orientation and a safety talk on-site, and remains available around the clock during your stay.
Animal-facing work is restricted: volunteers do not handle the bears directly, and all husbandry, enrichment, and construction tasks are carried out under staff direction, following the center's animal welfare policy. Your contribution is practical support — cleaning, enrichment preparation, maintenance, and education outreach — that helps the center's existing team manage its daily workload, rather than any role in clinical or rehabilitation decisions.
Our standards
- Responsible volunteer travel policyHow we choose, run and review every project
- Animal welfare policyOur rules for wildlife, marine and animal-care projects
- Certified B CorporationSocial and environmental performance verified by B Lab
- How we volunteer responsibly in MalaysiaCountry-level partner context and standards
Start dates
Weekly start dates, year-round — pick any week across the next two years.
Program fees by duration
Prices include your $249 booking deposit — which is deducted from your total program fee. Your deposit stays valid for one year, during which you may enroll in multiple programs. A 5% international banking fee applies to credit-card payments in USD or AUD.
| Duration | Total price | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | $1,594 |
Indicative conversion — your booking is charged in the currency you choose at checkout.
✓ What you're paying for
- Pre Departure Information and Support
- All facilities and equipment for work at the zoo
- Conservation contribution to the project
- 4 work T-shirts
- All activities, tools & materials included in “Project Days”
- Induction & orientation at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- 13 nights at designated shared accommodation
- Meet & greet at Sandakan Airport (SDK), Malaysia
- Arrival transfer from Sandakan Airport to project accommodation
- Transfer from dormitory to project site accommodation
- Departure transfer to Sandakan Airport in Sabah, Malaysia
- Welcome dinner on arrival day in Sepilok
- Meal allowance for all Project Days as indicated on itinerary / self-catering with basic cooking facilities provided
- Certificate of Participation(On Request)
Not included
- International Airfare
- Visa Fees
- Vaccinations
- Medical & Travel Insurance
- Any single supplement accommodation charges
- Meals and accommodation when traveling independently or on off Days
- Personal expenses
Accommodation & meals
Airport Transfers
The nearest airport to the project is Sandakan Airport (SDK), which is a domestic airport. Hence, you’ll have to book your flights to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA/KLIA2) or Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and then take another flight to Sandakan Airport.
Accurate flight details (flight number, airline, departure city, time of departure and arrival) are crucial to ensure pick up at the correct time.
Make sure that your flight arrives before 4:00 PM on the arrival date, and on the departure date, book a flight that departs after 11:00 AM from Sandakan Airport.
Accommodation
For the Sun Bear project, each volunteer will be accommodated in their own room within the volunteer longhouse (bunk bed + fan), with shared facilities (bathroom, and kitchen).
Volunteers also have an option to choose an upgraded option – private en-suite rooms in huts adjacent to the longhouse. These rooms feature a double bed, air conditioning, and an attached bathroom, while volunteers will still have access to the shared facilities. This upgrade is subject to availability and involves an additional fee. If you are interested, please inquire about availability and pricing, as fees vary depending on the type of hut.
Meals
Meal allowances will be provided to all the volunteers working for this project.
Orientation
There will be a detailed Program Orientation, that’ll enable you to know more about the conservation center and what kind of work is carried out there. You’ll also be guided and instructed on the ways in which you need to act and how you can provide your best services while being a part of this project. Our coordinators will be available 24/7, to offer any sort of assistance that you may require.
During your Free Time
During your free time, you can head out and explore Borneo’s wilderness and spend some time hiking through the jungles. Over your days off , you can plan a trek to Mount Kinabalu and feel the eeriness of the rainforests or explore the village of Sukau which is known for its biodiversity!
Life on the program
Getting there and who looks after you in Malaysia
Airport pickup and first night
You are met at Sandakan Airport (SDK) and transferred to your accommodation. A welcome dinner with fellow volunteers and a short briefing session take place on your first day.
Transfer and orientation
On day two you transfer to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre for an orientation session, including a safety tour and details about how the center operates.
First project day and ongoing support
Project work runs from day three, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm with a lunch break. Your project coordinator and local team are available 24/7 throughout your stay.
Departure
On your final day you check out and are transferred back to Sandakan Airport; book a departure flight after 11am.
From volunteers in Malaysia
Frequently asked questions
What kind of work do volunteers actually do?
You help clean dens, prepare enrichment items, assist with small construction or maintenance projects, and support the center's education program with talks and displays; there is no direct handling of the bears.
Do I get to touch or feed the sun bears myself?
No. All animal-facing work is done under staff instruction, and volunteers do not have direct contact with the bears.
Who is this program suitable for?
Anyone 18 or older who is fit, healthy, and comfortable with practical outdoor work; no prior conservation experience is required.
What does a typical day look like?
Project days run Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm with a lunch break, and weekends are free for you to explore the surrounding area.
How long is the program and when can I start?
The program runs for 2 weeks, with monthly start dates; the next start is 5 Oct 2026.
What does the cost include?
The program starts at $1,594, deposit included ($249), and covers accommodation, meal allowance on project days, airport transfers, work materials, orientation, and a certificate of participation on request. International flights, visa fees, vaccinations, and travel insurance are not included.
Where do I stay and what about meals?
You stay in shared hostel-style longhouse accommodation with a bunk bed, fan, and shared bathroom and kitchen; a private en-suite upgrade may be available for an extra fee. You receive a daily meal allowance to cover your food, with self-catering facilities provided.
Is airport pickup included?
Yes. You are met at Sandakan Airport (SDK) and transferred to your accommodation; arrive before 4pm on your start date and book your departure flight after 11am.
What support is available during the program?
An English-speaking project coordinator runs your orientation and safety briefing, and the local team is available 24 hours a day for any assistance you need.
What about visas, vaccinations, and insurance?
A doctor's letter confirming you are free from tuberculosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and tetanus (dated within 6 months of your start) is required. Travel and medical insurance is compulsory, either your own policy or one arranged through Volunteering Solutions; visa and vaccination guidance is sent before departure.
Is there a selection process before I am confirmed?
Yes. An online interview with the local team takes place before your application is confirmed; if you are not selected, a full refund is provided.
What can I do on my days off?
Weekends are free, and past volunteers have used the time to hike in Borneo's rainforest, trek toward Mount Kinabalu, or visit the village of Sukau.
Related pages
Schedule a meeting with a program advisor
We're here to help — a 20-minute one-on-one with detailed info, expert advice and application guidance.
Book a free meetingMore projects in Malaysia
Borneo Wildlife Safari – 1 Week
Join the 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari along the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to gibbons, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and…
Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience
A perfect program for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. It'll be an opportunity for you to get closer to…
Family Volunteer Adventure in Malaysia
What can be better than experiencing a volunteer vacation with your family while spending a week amidst the…