Collaboration is key and this project is no exception—building on studies established with giant pandas, this work will not only help the captive U.S. population, but will provide essential data for the future of wild bears. These studies will then go beyond to provide critical help for other endangered species.

SUCCESS BITES: A First for Woodland Park Zoo The year 2004 saw the first-ever artificial insemination attempts in the world on a sun bear name Suntil, an unpaired female bear at WPZ. Although a pregnancy did not result, we hope to use the data gained from this for captive management and natural breeding of sun bears. A First for the U.S. San Diego Zoo had the project’s first-ever U.S. captive Malayan sun bear birth on February 17, 2004. Both the mother and father were orphaned cubs from a rescue center in Malaysia and were imported to the U.S. as part of this study. This little cub represents hope for the future of sun bears. Budding Conservationists WPZ’s teen-oriented program, Zoo Corps, works with Cheryl Frederick to help gather data for the project. This collaborative work helps young teens learn how conservation biologists work. Their hardwork and enthusiasm has been contagious for everyone! LINKS: Sun Bear Fact Sheet

Little is known about sun bears (Helarctos malayanus). The lack of knowledge about their reproductive biology is compromising our ability to manage and conserve this species. This project aims to provide data on the reproductive cycle of female sun bears and apply this data to captive management and conservation strategies in both the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Using ongoing training and collaborative conservation efforts, it is hoped that the groundwork will be laid for successful assisted reproduction to augment captive breeding.

As of 2003, there are five male and 13 female Malayan subspecies of sun bears in American Zoo and Aquarium-accredited zoos in the U.S. and Canada. Each was transferred from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo) in 1996 and again in 2000. There have also been no reported impregnations by any of the males. The need for further investigation into the reproductive biology and behavior of sun bears is clear.

Woodland Park Zoo is actively attempting to increase these breeding rates. Using the giant panda as a model species, Frederick and Dr. Collins are currently examining the reproductive biology of the sun bear. The project collaborates with facilities here as well as overseas to better understand this species by using hormone monitoring and artificial insemination procedures. Without this program, the North American population could die out without having reproduced sufficiently to sustain itself.

Effective techniques for use with giant pandas have been developed in part by Dr. Barbara Durrant, of the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES) in San Diego. Collins and Frederick hope to use this information to answer similar reproductive questions about sun bears. Transporting sperm instead of moving male bears facilitates insemination of unpaired females and reduces stress on the bears. Once techniques are established domestically, the project plans to collect sperm from sun bears in zoos in Indonesia, thus significantly increasing our captive population’s genetic diversity.

June 2004 saw the first-ever artificial insemination attempts in the world on a sun bear, an unpaired female sun bear at WPZ. Although a pregnancy did not result, we hope to use the behavioral and physiological data gained from this for captive management and to increase natural breeding of sun bears.

Recently, Frederick traveled to collaborating zoos to set up the project on site. Currently, the six U.S. zoos participating in the study are up and running to contribute data on sun bears. In July 2004, Frederick traveled to Indonesia to set up several zoos there. It is vital to have collaborators in the range countries of sun bears to have successful conservation efforts. Ultimately, through direct communication with field researchers and cooperation with other organizations, we hope to contribute critical reproductive data to the conservation management plans that are being attempted for this small, endangered bear.