Malayan Sun Bear
(Helarctos malayanus)
Habitat
All
elevations of dense tropical and subtropical forests
Length
and Shoulder Height
Adult length: 3.5-4.5 feet (1.1-1.4 m)
Adult height:
28 inches (72 cm)
Weight
Males
60-143 pounds (27-65 kg)
Males are
10-20% heavier than females
Life
Span
Life span in the wild is unknown; up to 28 years in zoos
Diet
In
the wild: Sun bears eat predominantly fruit, honey, insects and
their larvae, small rodents, lizards, birds, earthworms, green vegetation
and roots. Sun bears also relish the growing tips of coconut palms grown
on plantations. This kills the palms and leads to sun bears being shot
by plantation owners.
At
the zoo: Omnivore biscuits, a variety of fruits, vegetables,
insects and honey (occasionally fish).
Reproduction
Little is known about the breeding activity of sun bears. They have
been observed breeding at all times during the year, which suggests they
have no regular breeding season. Females first mate at about 3 years
of age. The mating period lasts from two days to a week, during which
time a mating pair will engage in behavior such as hugging, mock fighting
and head bobbing.
The sun bear gestation period is approximately
95 days. Sun bears have been observed giving birth to one or two
cubs in both ground and tree nests. Average birth weight is 10.5-12
ounces (300-400 g).
Life Cycle
Newly born cubs are blind and hairless and
totally dependent on their mother for survival. Cubs develop quickly,
however, and within two or three months are able to run, play and forage
with their mother. Young cubs must learn from their mother what is
suitable to eat, where to find food and how to get it. Cubs usually
remain with their mother 1.5-2.5 years.
Sun Bear
- World's Smallest Bear
The sun bear is the smallest member of the bear family. Sun
bears usually have a white or yellowish crescent marking on their chest which
many people believe looks like the rising or setting sun. Hence the name, "sun
bear."
In the Malay language,
sun bears are called basindo nan tenggil, meaning "he who likes to sit high." Indeed,
sun bears are arboreal and spend a considerable amount of time in
trees. Sun bears quickly skim the forest floor in search of bee and
termite nests and other insects. Agile climbers, sun bears use their
short, powerful, bowed legs, and feet with hairless soles and long
claws, to climb trees in their endless search for food. Once a tasty
treat is excavated, they use their long tongues to slurp up the honey,
insects or other delicacies. For larger, hard-to-open fruits such
as coconuts, sun bears use their powerful jaws to break open the
outer shell. Sun bears build small nests from broken branches in
trees which they use for sleeping, and possibly as a feeding platform.
Small but Powerful
Although sun bears are only about half the size of American black
bears, they are well equipped to defend themselves if attacked by
a large predator such as a tiger. They make a barking sound as they
rise on their hind legs, and use their long sickle-like claws, disproportionately
large canines and powerful jaws to inflict serious damage to their
attacker. Sun bears have very small ears and dense, black hair, about
.5 inch long, which effectively repels water, mud and other debris.
Of interest, if a large predator grabs a sun bear, it can turn in
its loose skin and bite its attacker.
Location
at the Zoo
Woodland
Park Zoo's sun bears can be found
along the Trail of Adaptations at the bear grotto facing the North
Meadow. The bear's multi-level naturalistic
setting contains major components of these bears’ natural environment.
Visitors will have the opportunity to observe sun bears as they may
behave in the wild.
Conservation
Connection
Sun bears
are listed as an endangered species. During prehistoric times, sun
bears inhabited lowland forests of southeast
Asia, from Malaysia and Indonesia to as far west as India. Today,
however, only fragmented populations live in remnants of their former
habitat. Sun bears are the least studied of all bears, so it is unknown
how many are left in the wild. What is certain, though, is that their
numbers are steadily declining due to habitat loss resulting from
excessive logging and agriculture, the pet trade, poaching for meat
and use of their gall bladders in traditional Asian medicine.
Woodland Park Zoo is supporting field studies on
sun bears in Thailand to learn more about their behavior and habitat.
Zoo staff have also developed a Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the
sun bear which addresses the need for educating local people on their
native wildlife species, including the sun bear, and for breeding
and conducting research on captive sun bears. Researchers will monitor
their reproductive cycles to improve zoo-based breeding programs
and sun bear reproduction in the wild.
For more information our our sun bear conservation project, visit the Sun Bear Reproduction Project page in our Conservation section.
How You Can Help!
You can help preserve and protect wildlife and their habitat.
Join and become active in Woodland Park Zoo and other conservation
organizations of your choice. Please do not buy products made from
wild animal parts.
Contact
Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org to find out
about ways you can support conservation programs at the zoo. Learn
other ways you can help conserve wildlife and the habitats they require
for survival by visiting our How You Can Help page.
Sources and Suggested Reading
Domico, Terry. 1988. Bears of the World. Facts on File, New
York, NY. 189 p. Stirling, I., ed. 1993. Bears: Majestic Creatures
of the Wild. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA. 240 p.
For Kids!
Gilka, H., & Bale, A. 1993. Bears. Ticknor & Fields,
New York, NY. 30 p.
Lynch, W. 1995. Bears, Bears, Bears. Firefly
Books, Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. 63 p.