Sun bear roams Seremban estate as Perhilitan widens its search

A sun bear is still loose around a housing estate in Seremban, and Perhilitan has widened its search. The bear raided stingless bee hives at an army camp in Senawang before it appeared in Taman Tuanku Jaafar. No injuries have been reported.

A video of the bear went viral on the morning of 6 October. Malay Mail also reported a TikTok clip showing the animal tearing into the roof of a hut. Residents have voiced concern that it could approach or attack people.

Police and Perhilitan are now working together on the search. This report draws on Bernama and Malay Mail coverage from 6 and 7 October. It sets out what is known, and what remains unclear.

A bear in a housing estate

The viral video runs for 1 minute 23 seconds and shows a sun bear roaming a residential area in Senawang. Bernama said the bear was spotted there on Monday night, 5 October. The estate lies next to the 15th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment camp.

Malay Mail described a separate TikTok clip. It shows the bear tearing into the roof of a hut at about midnight. The reports do not agree on the exact night, so we avoid giving a date for the clip.

Seremban district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yatim Osman said police are helping with patrols. “I advise them to remain vigilant,” he said of residents. He added that the presence of officers should discourage the animal from approaching homes.

Malay Mail reported that this was the first report of a sun bear entering the estate. The only earlier report was the incident at the camp next door.

Why the Sun bear came

The trouble began at the camp. Bernama said a complaint on 19 September described damage to stingless bee hives. The state Perhilitan director also mentioned damage to an orchard inside the camp.

Perhilitan set a trap at the camp on 21 September. However, the bear has not been caught. Malay Mail reported on 7 October that the bear skipped a trap set nearby. As a result, the search area has widened.

The director believes the bear came from the Angsi Forest Reserve. He believes it is the same animal that damaged the orchard. Malay Mail reported that the bear came into the estate because it was hungry and looking for food.

Bernama and Malay Mail name different people as the Negeri Sembilan Perhilitan director. We have left the name out until it is confirmed.

What happens next

Perhilitan said it is still monitoring and tracking the bear’s movements around the estate and nearby areas. The director said it is carrying out monitoring within a wider search area. Perhilitan has also said it may move the trap if the bear keeps returning.

Neither report gives the bear’s size, age or condition. They also do not say how long the trap has been set at each site. Residents get little guidance beyond police advice to stay alert.

The species is the world’s smallest bear and is native to South-east Asia. The IUCN Red List classes it as vulnerable. Malay Mail blamed habitat loss, hunting and human-bear conflict for its decline.

If you live near Taman Tuanku Jaafar, stay vigilant, as police advise. Watch for updates from Perhilitan on whether the bear has moved on or been caught.