Kawasan Wisata Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup (KWPLH), which translates to Environmental Education and Recreation facility, or colloquially also known as the Sun Bear Center, is the ONLY environmental education facility in Indonesian Borneo, located 23 km north of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan.

In 2002, the Sun Bear was proposed as the mascot of Balikpapan, fuelled by the first research project on wild sun bears carried out in the field in the Sungai Wain Protection Forest, located without Balikpapan City boundaries. Since 2004, the City Government has collaborated with private donors and wildlife experts to develop the sun bear education center, the centerpiece of which is a 1.3 ha natural forest enclosure now housing 6 sun bears that can never be released into the wild. This is enclosure is widely recognized as one of the best of its kind in Asia, and large numbers of visitors (more than 50,000 in 2019), mostly domestic, come to see and learn all about this smallest of bear species.

In 2008 we had the cheerful opening of our impressive ‘Sun Bear Information Exhibit’, the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Asia, followed by an new education exhibit focusing on ‘Domestic Animal Care versus Wildlife Not Suitable as Pets’, including an adoption house for sterilized [former stray] kittens. After that, a novel exhibit focusing on the rich ‘Endemic Flora and Fauna of Borneo’ was developed.

Several other exhibits focusing on important local conservation and environmental themes enrich the main wooden visitor hall [an impressive Kalimantan style lamin] to raise awareness focusing on the rampant ‘Illegal Wildlife Trade’, the unique and economically invaluable ‘Sungai Wain Protection Forest’, as well as the environmental issues at stake in the ‘Bay of Balikpapan’.

At the Education Centre we have also developed a rescue facility for stray and abandoned cats and dogs, sadly frequently found dumped due to a lack of veterinary care, where we also provide much needed information on animal care. In addition, over the years, attractive gardens and playground facilities have been developed, and visitor numbers and satisfaction have increased steadily. The majority of visitors are local schoolchildren, community groups and families wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours.

KWPLH development has largely been funded through donations. For several years basic running costs were funded by the Balikpapan city government, but since 2016 the KWPLH education center is fully funded and managed by the Pro Natura Foundation. Pro Natura currently employs close to 35 staff from the local communities to help manage the various programmes at the center, from the day-to-day sun bear and animal management, to maintaining all visitor facilities, development of exhibits, gardening and landscaping, cleanliness.

We are very grateful to the various private and corporate donors who support management of this unique environmental education center!