Sun Bear Introduction
Helarctos malayanus (Malaysian Bear)
The Sun Bear is the smallest member of the bear family. It has a stocky build with large paws, rounded ears, and a short snout which makes it look almost dog-like. They have black fur which is short to keep them cool in the hot climate but it is also coarse and tough to protect them from twigs and branches. They spend much of their time in trees and will both sunbathe and sleep in the branches, sometimes constructing platforms on which they can sleep.
They get their name from the golden-colored markings on their chest.
Sun Bear Size
The Sun Bear is the smallest bear, standing at only 70cm at the shoulder. They weigh between 25 and 65Kg. To put this into context, a male grizzly bear can weigh up to 360Kg so these really are the babies of the bear family.
Sun Bear Reproduction
Unlike most other bears, sun bears can mate and give birth at any time of the year. These bears live rather solitary lives and only come together for mating, after which they will go their separate way again. The gestation period is 95 to 240 days and the mother usually gives birth to only one cub (although on rare occasions she might have twins).
As with most bears, the cubs are born blind, bald, and helpless, weighing around 11 ounces but their eyes open within a week or so and they grow fur a bit later. The cubs can move about at two months old and are weaned by four months but they often stay with their mothers, learning how to be a bear, for about two years.
Sun Bear Habitat
Sun Bears live in the tropical rainforests of southeast Asia. Their range starts in Eastern India, through Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Southern China, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. They are present in the tropical evergreen rainforest, montane forests, and swamp habitats. They tend to avoid heavily logged areas and areas close to human habitation but do come into conflict with farmers when they wander onto farmland.
Sun Bear Diet
Sun bears are omnivorous. In the wild, they eat fruit, berries, roots, termites, ants, beetles, bees, small birds, rodents, lizards, and honey. Their long tongue helps them eat termites from their nests and also enables them to get at honey. Fruit makes up around half of their diet and they particularly like figs. They are able to crack into coconuts and will often eat the inside and those big claws are great for tearing open tree bark to eat the grubs and insects found there.
Sun Bear Adaptations
There are a number of adaptations that can be seen on the Sun Bear to do with its habitat and diet. Its fur is short but tough which helps keep them cool in the hot South East Asian rainforests but tough enough to protect against twigs and plants. They have sharp teeth and claws which help dig into termite mounts and tree bark, and their tongues are very (almost comically!) long so that they can get the insects out of logs and honey out of nests. Despite their name, they mostly forage for food at night.
Sun Bear Predators
Due to its smaller size, the Sun Bear does have some predators in the wild. Their biggest threat is humans but other than that, tigers are their main predator. They can also be attacked by leopards and dholes but these attacks are much rarer. There is also evidence that a sun bear was eaten whole by a large reticulated python in Indonesia!
Are Sun Bears Endangered?
Sun bears are listed as being Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and the bad news is that their numbers are falling with the bears slipping towards the Endangered mark. It is thought that numbers have fallen by 35% over the past 30 years but there is no reliable data as to how many sun bears are left in the wild.
Throughout their range, the two biggest issues are heavy deforestation to make way for farmland and hunting for the wildlife trade. Much like some other bears, the sun bear is a target for its bile and gall bladder. There have been occasions when mother bears are killed for their cubs, captured for the pet trade, and farmers will kill bears as the bears can destroy palm oil and coconut plantations. With the exception of Sarawak in Malaysia, and Cambodia, Sun bears are protected from hunting by law but protective laws have done little to protect against these threats as they are often poorly implemented.
Are Sun Bears Dangerous?
Despite their small size, Sun Bears are thought to be quite aggressive and can be dangerous. They have sharp teeth and claws and are very capable of defending themselves against humans and attacks on people are not unheard of. Mothers with cubs are particularly dangerous as they will do anything to protect their cubs, and sometimes the best defense is offense, as the saying goes.
What is the Difference Between a Sun Bear and a Moon Bear?
The Moon bear is another name given to the Asiatic Black Bear. Like the Sun bear, they have black fur and a cream-colored “collar” on their chest and do look quite similar. The biggest difference is size. Sun bears are smaller than moon bears, have smaller, more rounded ears and shorter fur. The sun bear also has longer claws, a longer tongue, and does not hibernate.
FAQs
Are Sun Bears Endangered?
Not yet. They are currently classed as vulnerable but their numbers are falling due to habitat loss and hunting and it only seems like a matter of time before they become endangered.
Are Sun Bears Dangerous?
Sun Bears are the smallest bear species but they have long claws and sharp teeth and have been known to attack people, particularly when protecting cubs.
Why are they Called Sun Bears?
They get their name from the cream-colored collar on their chest fur.
How many Sun Bears are left?
The simple answer to this is we don’t know. I have seen estimates as low as 1,000 being left in the wild but this is just a guess. Their numbers are declining and they are classified as vulnerable.
Are Sun Bears Blind?
No, they are not blind but they do have relatively poor eyesight and rely more on their sense of smell. The cubs are born blind.
Why Does a Sun Bear Have a Long Tongue?
This is so that they can easily lap up insects such as ants and termites from their nests. It is also useful for eating honey.
Do Sun Bears Hibernate?
Unusually for bears, sun bears do not hibernate. This is thought to be because due to the year-round warm climate there is plentiful food at any time of year so there is no need to hibernate.
