Habitat and distribution (where they are found)They live in thick tropical forests, in lowland areas rather than in the mountains. They are often in trees. They range includes the eastern Himalayas, China, Burma and Malayasia.
The Malayan Sun Bear
Sun bears are small, not like other bears.
They spend a lot of time in trees.
They live in forests.
They eat plants and meat.
They have a yellow V mark on their neck.
The sun bear is the smallest of all the different kinds of bear, but is one of the most aggressive.
Habitat and distribution (where they are found)
They live in thick tropical forests, in lowland areas rather than in the mountains. They are often in trees. They range includes the eastern Himalayas, China, Burma and Malayasia.
Appearance and Behaviours
The small bear stands at about 70 cm and weighs about 30-65 kilograms.
Its solid body is covered with sleek fur. It has a short tail and rounded ears, and an orange-yellow V mark on its chest. An excellent climber, it has long sharp claws and hairless soles for climbing trees.
The sun bear is mainly nocturnal, or active at night, and it makes day nests in trees.
Diet
It feeds on fruit, small rodents, insects, birds and earthworms. It climbs trees to get honey made by wild bees. Sun bears also climb farmed coconut palms and eat the heart of the palm trees, which results in the bears being killed by farmers.
Life Cycle
About 100 days after mating, the female gives birth, normally to two cubs, in a nest in the forest undergrowth. The cubs weigh about 225 grams, and are blind, hairless and helpless. Their skin is almost transparent. However, after about 1-2 months, they are able to forage for food with their mother. The cubs stay with their mother until they are almost fully grown.
A young sun bear
Conservation Status and Threats
The sun bear is classified as being very endangered. It is not known how many still exist in the wild. Their habitat is being destroyed. The main danger they face is that it is believed by some people that the gall bladder and other body parts of the sun bear can be made into magical medicines. This is not scientifically true, but many still believe it and poachers hunt them.
Acknowledge this
source in your bibliography like this:
Malayan
Sun Bear (2001).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
updated September 2007