Sun bears, helarctos malayanus, are the smallest of all the bears. They measure 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) long and stand about 3 feet (1 meter) at the shoulders. They weigh 60 to 150 pounds (27 to 70 kilograms), making them about half the size of American black bears. It is believed that their fur is short and sleek to cope with the hotter environments that they live in. Sun bears get their name from the golden patch on their chests, which legend says represents the rising sun. They also go by other names such as the “dog bear” and the “honey bear” due to their appearance or behavior.
Sun bears can be found in Malaysia and parts of India. They tend to inhabit tropical jungles. They are often spotted in pairs and like to spend most of their time up in trees, even making their homes in the branches of them. Their large paws, long claws, and small size allow them to traverse their arboreal surroundings with ease. Being nocturnal, sun bears will rest up in the trees during the day and go out hunting come nightfall.
The diet of sun bears consist of things like lizards, rodents, honey, insects, sap, fruit, berries, roots and the soft part of palm trees. They use their strong sense of smell to track down a meal. Once something like a bee hive or a termite nest has been spotted, sun bears will use their long claws to tear it apart. After this, they use their considerably long tongues to slurp up the contents. Sun bears have few natural predators, with the occasional tiger or reticulated python being one of the few things to watch out for. If they do find themselves under attack, they will fight back with their claws and canine teeth for defense.
There really isn’t any particular breeding season for sun bears. They will make their breeding nests on the ground, usually in leafy vegetation or in hollow logs. Females will give birth to 1 or 2 cubs. The cubs are hairless, deaf, blind, and can’t even smell at birth and will depend on their mother for warmth, food, and protection. Mother sun bears will sometimes even hold their cubs in their arms while standing on their hind legs to move them from place to place. After about 2 months, the cubs will be able to run around and play. They will stop nursing at around 4 months of age, but will remain with their mother for more than 2 years. If the cubs manage to make it to adulthood, they may live to be up to 15 to 25 years old.
There is currently not enough data to determine exactly how the sun bears are fairing out in the wild. It is still however, thought to be threatened due to loss of habitat and hunting. Hopefully, a plan can be made to find a solution to save sun bears from the threat of extinction. After all, such a unique bear species deserves to live for future generations to see.
