Sun bears are very aggressive and may attack without provocation. They are classed as vulnerable. The population is decreasing due to habitat loss, poaching and taking cubs as pets. Sun bears are the smallest bears. A big male sun bear weighs about 100 pounds. It is illegal to own a sun bear as a pet. They are a protected species.
How many sun bears are left?
Sun Bears are one of the most endangered species worldwide, with only around 2000 left in the wild. Found from southern China to Indonesia, sun bears take their name from the golden patch on their chest. The long claws are handy for tearing open trees to find nests and insects. Because they live in the tropics, sun bears can mate year-round. Sun bears have a very long tongue to get honey from hives.
Many viewers feared Mary the sun bear had been stolen from the Free the Bears sanctuary. Although unconfirmed, Mary is still at the sanctuary in Laos. Elsewhere, bile farms are growing in popularity.
Sun bears rarely attack humans. They are hunted for meat, fur, claws and teeth as they are vulnerable. Deforestation also destroys their habitat. Scientists are unsure how many are left since their secretive nature makes them hard to find. Interest in sun bears increased after footage showed one named Angela standing upright. Experts debunked theories she was a human in costume. Conservation groups estimate between 1,000-2,500 remain in the wild.
Reasons why sun bears face threats:
– Habitat loss from deforestation
– Hunting for body parts
– Capture for the pet trade
Ways sun bears help the environment:
– Disperse seeds to maintain forests
– Lifespan up to 25 years in captivity
Protection efforts:
– Some zoos breed them
– They are protected by anti-poaching laws
Can you have a sun bear as a pet?
Sun bear is listed as “vulnerable”. They are an endangered species protected by laws. In short, you cannot own a sun bear as pet.
Predators of Sun Bears include tigers, snakes, and birds of prey. The population of this rare bear is thought to have declined more than 30 percent in the last 30 years.
Many people refer to the Sun Bear as the Honey Bear due to the vast amount of honey they consume. Sun bears have the longest tongue of all bear species, 20-25 centimeters!
Sun bears are very intelligent. They use complex facial movements to communicate. Sun bears grow to only about half the size of an American black bear. Although it is illegal to kill sun bears, laws protecting them are rarely enforced.
Found from southern China to Indonesia, sun bears take their name from the yellow or white patch on their chest representing the rising sun. Sun bears can bark, growl and roar. Cubs hum while nursing and squawk or cry when needing their mother. Why do sun bears look like humans? “They are living more or less by themselves,”. It’s this solitary nature that makes the discovery of sun bears’ facial mimicry prowess so unexpected.
Why is a sun bear called a sun bear?
The sun bear is the smallest bear species. Weighing 25-65 kg, it stands 70 cm at the shoulder. Stockily built with large paws and strongly curved claws, it has small, rounded ears and a short snout. Found from southern China to Indonesia, the sun bear is named after the golden or white bib-shaped patch on its chest. Legend says this represents the rising sun.
Sun bears live alone or with their offspring. Males are territorial. Surprisingly sun bears mimic facial expressions despite their solitary nature. Their diet consists of fruit, insects, small vertebrates and honey though they may prey on birds, fish and snakes too.
Originally from Indonesian tropical forests, the sun bear plays an important role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Sun bear populations are decreasing due to deforestation, poaching and illegal pet trade. Though not yet endangered, climate change threatens their habitat.