Sun bear facts

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• Overview
• Why they matter
• Threats​

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Overview

Status: Vulnerable
Scientific name: Helarctos malayanus
Length: 120 – 150cm
Weight: 20 – 70kg
Habitat: Tropical lowland areas, SE Asia
Diet: Omnivorous
Average number of cubs: one 
Life-expectancy: 30 years

The sun bear is the smallest, most arboreal and least studied bear. It is the second rarest bear species, after the giant panda. 

Their name comes from the pale horseshoe shape on their chests, which is said to resemble the setting or rising sun. No two markings are the same.

They have a very long tongue at 20 – 25cm. This helps them extract honey from bee hives, earning them the alternative name ‘honey bear’ or ‘beruang madu’ in Malay and Indonesian.

Sun bears live in tropical lowland forests and are the only bear in SE Asia. They are mainly diurnal and do not hibernate but build nests in trees to sleep in. They are omnivores and primarily eat invertebrates, fruit and honey.

Sun bears are the smallest bear.

Sun bears have very long tongues.

Hornbills nest in holes made by sun bears.

Why they matter

Their natural behaviour helps ensure the health of the forest. They help disperse seeds and keep termite populations down, helping tropical tree species. They dig for invertebrates in the soil, which enhances the forest’s nutrient cycle through the mixing of rich and poor soil. And they create nesting sites for animals such as hornbills and flying squirrels, by tearing open tree trunks to reach the honey inside.

Deforestation is a major threat to sun bears.

Threats

The total sun bear population has declined by at least 30% in the last 30 years contributing to sun bears being classified as 'vulnerable' in 2007 meaning they are at high risk of extinction in the wild (IUCN 2007). Sun bears face three main threats:

Habitat loss - Like many species, deforestation and degradation of habitat has dramatically decreased their numbers. The main causes in Borneo are plantation development, unsustainable or illegal logging and human-caused fires. In Sumatra and Borneo, large-scale conversion of forest to oil palm or other cash crops is proceeding at a rate of 1,000s of km² per year (Holmes 2002).  

Commercial hunting - Sun bears are primarily hunted for their gall bladders (for use in Chinese folk medicine) and bear paws (as an expensive delicacy). In China and Vietnam, bile is milked from bears while they are still alive. Bears are routinely restocked as they do not live long. Killing sun bears is illegal in all of their native counties but is largely uncontrolled.  

Pet trade - Sun bears are the smallest bear in the world. As such, their cubs are considered incredibly cute and there is a high demand for them as pets. The mother is killed and the orphaned cub is removed from the wild and commonly kept in small cages with inadequate care.

If you see or hear a captured sun bear contact us or your local authorities immediately.