Sun Bear

Helarctos malayanus

### Regions

Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, India

## Habitat

### Water Area

920 m² +142 m²/ea. add'l
0 m²

### Temperature

56 m² +28 m²/ea. add'l
6‒42 ℃

## Social

### Fem. Bachelor

1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
1‒2
1‒2

### Sterility

4 years
Death

### Interbirth

6 months
30 months

## Taxonomy

### Order

Mammalia
Carnivora

### Genus

Ursidae
Helarctos

The **Sun Bear** (*Helarctos malayanus*) is a small Asian mammal featured in the Southeast Asia Animal Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In The Wild:** Unknown

The sun bear is a small species of bear that lives in the tropical rainforests of South East Asia. It has dark brown to black fur with a yellow-tan face and muzzle with a distinctive orange-coloured crescent marking across its upper chest. The sun bear has a broad head, long oblong snout and small rounded ears. Males and females look the same, but males are 10% to 20% larger than females. They measure between 120 and 150cm in length and weigh between 27 kg and 65kg.

The sun bear is a vulnerable species. It is mainly threatened by habitat destruction through deforestation and agricultural land conversion, often to create palm oil plantations. They are also hunted for body parts that will be used in traditional medicine, with their gall bladders being particularly sought after. Although the current population of sun bears is unknown, it is thought that their numbers have decreased by 30% in recent decades. Many of the areas they live in are protected, but illegal deforestation still occurs.

### Social

Sun bears are solitary, with the exception of a mother with their cubs. They only interact to mate.

### Reproduction

Due to the secretive nature of this species, there are gaps in the knowledge regarding their mating habits. What is known is that males will track females by smelling their urine. When a male and a female meet, they will have a brief courtship and mate before going their separate ways.

The female will be pregnant for 3-7 months. During the late weeks of her pregnancy. She will locate a den in a hollow tree or somewhere similar where she will give birth to 1-3 cubs. Cubs stay with their mother for 3 years. After this point she is likely to mate again. They will then leave her to live solitarily and independently. Sun bears reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Bamboo Feeder · Block of Frozen Fruit · Foraging Wall · Block of Frozen Fish · Underwater Fish Feeder
Climbing Frame · Bobbin · Bobbin Drum · Herb Scent Marker · Rubbing Pillar · Water Pool · Hammock · Chew toy · Wind Chimes · Scots Pine/Tamarind Scratching Tree · Submarine Buoy

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* The sun bear is the smallest bear species.
* Sun bear cubs are born blind and hairless.
* Sun bears are also known as "honey bears" because of their love of honey and their habit of breaking open beehives to get it.
* The sun bear's tongue is 20-25cm long; It uses its tongue to extract insects and honey.
* Sun bears can copy each other's facial expressions; a primate-like behavior.

### Other Trivia

* The **Sun Bear** was given 'deep diving' in Update 1.6.