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Singer Who Kept Endangered Sun Bear In Her Condo Said She Initially "Thought It Was A Dog"

She found the animal in a weak state by the roadside in Bukit Ampang two weeks ago.

Cover image via Facebook

On 6 June, an injured and endangered sun bear cub was found to be kept in secret in a condominium unit in Kuala Lumpur

The six-month-old cub caught attention of residents after it poked its head through a window and roared loudly.

Image via Facebook

The tenant was later discovered to be Malaysia singer Zarith Sofia.

She was arrested by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) for keeping a protected animal under the law, New Straits Times reported.

Image via Facebook

Image via New Straits Times

Since her arrest, the former reality show contestant has come out with her side of the story.

"At first, I thought it was a dog," Zarith said.

Zarith Sofia on reality show 'Rockanova'.

Image via besnfbkl

The 27-year-old explained that she found the animal in a weak state by the roadside in Bukit Ampang two weeks ago.

She told Kosmo! that she had no intention of keeping the sun bear cub, which she later named Bruno.

After realising that the animal was a bear, the singer decided to only surrender it to Zoo Negara after it recuperated

"I was worried about sending Bruno to the zoo (while it was ill) because the animals there look skinny," she said.

"I know the bear cannot be reared, it can't be kept as a pet. I only wanted to save the bear, I had no intention of exploiting it," she added.

While Zarith was back in her hometown for Hari Raya when the cub was discovered, she explained that she had left enough food for it

Image via Facebook

"If Bruno could talk, it would surely say the food I gave him was delicious – it ate chocolates!" the singer said, as quoted by Kosmo!

She also claimed that she did not keep the animal in a cage as she thought that it was cruel and she did not intend to keep him for long.

In Malaysia, sun bears are listed as an endangered species and protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010

Image via Hayden's Animal Facts

This makes it an offence to simply possess any specimen of the species, Malay Mail reported.

When residents first heard the cub's roars, they thought it was a prank. Read more about the sun bear's discovery here:

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