The zoo welcomed a new male Malayan sun bear in our Trail of Adaptations exhibit area. He is making short visits to his new exhibit where he will eventually get to meet our two female sun bears. It is hoped that the introductions will go well and that the new male will eventually breed with one or both of the females

Sun bears are the smallest species of bear in the world. They are also one of the least studied of all the living eight species of bears. Because of this, little is known about their reproductive behavior and biology. Woodland Park Zoo, using techniques pioneered in giant panda artificial insemination (AI), attempted and AI with one of our female sun bears, Suntil, in May 2004. Although the procedure did not result in a pregnancy, researchers learned a great deal more about sun bear reproduction because of the process. This research team is headed by keeper Cheryl Frederick who is obtaining her Ph.D. in sun bear research and the zoo's Director of Animal Health, Dr. Darin Collins.

Malayan Sun bear
(Helarctos malayanus)