Malayan Sun Bear

## About

A sun bear.

The Malayan sun bear ***(Helarctos malayanus)*** is a very unique species of bear native to Southeast Asia. The name sun bear comes from the species' golden patch of chest fur. They are the smallest extant bear species, measuring up to 1.2-1.5m (3.9-4.9ft) in length and weighing only 27-65kg (59-143lbs). They stand only 70cm (27in). Their coats are coarse and black in colouration however, some individuals appear dark brown. Other than their main coat colour, they also have an orange/grey muzzle and a yellow print on their chest however, some individuals do not possess this trait. Like other bear species, they have a plantigrade stance meaning, their front limbs are shorter than their hind limbs and they walk on the soles of their feet, like humans do. Sun bears do also have the ability to stand on their hind legs, appearing in a slouched or hunched appearance in doing so. They possess long hooked claws, which work with their naked soles in order to climb trees efficiently. The face and ears of the sun bear are round and their muzzles are square and pointed. uniquely sun bears have extremely long tongues which help the bears hunt insects.

## Diet

Sun bears are omnivorous eating both plant and meat matter. They often eat bees, termites and earthworms. Though this makes up a large portion of their diet, sun bears also eat fruit species when needed. Although when around humans they feast on rubbish, livestock and agriculturally controlled plants. When hunting they often use their long dexterous tongues to their advantage to catch insects, termites and steal honey from bee hives.

## Conservation Status

Sun bears are classed vulnerable by the IUCN for a variety of reasons. Sun bear hunting has become a big issue in the species' entire range, with the exception of Brunei. Specifically in Northeast India the species amount is at an all time low and is at risk of extinction. Sun bears are poached for their organs, particularly their gall bladders, which is used in traditional East Asian remedies and medicines. In Laos the bear population is commonly snared as a means of protecting agricultural plantations. Often bears are poached in retaliation for destroying property and for allegations of attacking livestock. In peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia, sun bears are often seen missing paws, as a result of being attacked poachers. During 1990 - 2000, 11.9% of Southeast Asia's tropical forests were lost to deforestation in the Sudaic region. A further 13% was lost in the same timeframe and later 9.9% was lost in 2000-2010. This led to the sun bear population decreasing in numbers significantly. An estimated 23.5% of all forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan were lost during the years of 1990-2005 and an additional 40% of lowland forests were also lost. The reasoning for deforestation across the Sundaic region can be attributed to the logging industry and land clearing in order to create suitable areas for large scale palm oil and rubber farming. As sun bears are a semi-arboreal species that depend on trees for their habitat, this continuing issue poses a threat to the species' future. Unfortunately, protected areas in the bear's range offer little protection from the ongoing threat, as they are still subjected to illegal deforestation. 40% of total deforestation in Indonesia was attributed to National parks and protected areas in the years between 2000 and 2012 and a further 56% was lost in Kalimantan alone. Though purposeful agricultural deforestation poses a massive threat to the sun bear, human-caused fires also wage war on the bear's available habitat. Though often caused by human activity, these fires are more frequent during El Niño related droughts in the Sundaic region. Between 1997 and 2006, 21% (16.2 million ha (40.03 million ac)) of Borneo's land-mass was effected by fires on the Island, which caused sun bear populations to starve due to irregular fruit flowering times caused by the fire damages. Due to the sun bear's unique ecology, the effects of prolonged habitat damage, regardless of the cause, can result in catastrophic population losses for the species and so habitat degradation remains the sun bear population's most threatening issue.

## Range and Population

Sun bears live in Southeast Asia, in the regions of; The Eastern Himalayas, Indochina and Szechuan China and also inhabit these countries. South Myanmar (Burma) and the Malayan peninsula. Sun bears are known to occur in Low land tropical rainforests and are commonly found climbing trees. They also inhabit areas of high mountains at elevations of 3000m (9842ft). The distribution map to the left highlights where the bear is extant (gold), where the bear's presence is uncertain (purple) and where the bear is extinct (red). The abundance of regions where the sun bear is regionally extinct, allows a view into how deforestation is devastating the species. The population of the sun bear is currently unknown however, it is likely decreasing due to factors mentioned above.

## Behaviour

Sun bears are nocturnal and specialize in climbing. They often sun bathe and sleep in trees ranging from 2 - 7m (6.5 - 22ft) high. This species doesn't go through periods of hibernation because of they inhabit perpetually warm tropical areas, where food sources are abundant all year. And like other bear species they have a keen sense of smell, bears usually use their dexterity and smell to manipulate and find food respectively. Sun bears may use their smell to find potential mates. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information surrounding sun bear behavioural and breeding characteristics.

### Relationship with Humans

The sun bear is commonly hunted for sport and profit across their range. They are most prolifically hunted for the use of their gall bladders in traditional East Asian medicines, though the treatment itself has been proven ineffective. Sun bears are also known to cause damage to palm oil plantations and other agricultural settlements, which has caused human-wildlife conflict.

## In Captivity

The sun bear is a relatively common species in captivity and can be found internationally in zoos.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/9760/123798233
* Sun Bear | WWF - https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our\_focus/wildlife\_practice/profiles/mammals/sun\_bear/
* Sun Bear | Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Helarctos\_malayanus/
* Sun Bear | Bear Conservation - http://www.bearconservation.org.uk/sun-bear