The M alayan Sun Bear

THE MALAYAN SUN BEARBy Jane

Physical Characteristics The Malayan sun bear has short, deep black

or brown-black hair with a pale orange-yellow horseshoe shaped marking on its chest.

Adult sun bears can weigh from 60-150 Ibs. Baby sun bears weigh only 10-15 ounces when they are born.

The males are usually 5 feet long and the females are usually 4 feet long.

The Malayan sun bear is the smallest bear in the world!

Reproduction Gestation is usually 96 days. One or two cubs are born at a

time. The babies are naked, small, and

helpless so the mom cares for them.

The young stay with their parents for about two to three years.

Habitat The Malayan sun bear lives in many

lowland tropical areas like countries in Asia such as China, Burma, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

The sun bear is arboreal and makes its nest in trees.

Sun bears are not territorial.

Food The sun bear is an omnivore, which

means it will eat almost anything. The diet of a sun bear may include

termites, ants, beetle larvae, bee larvae, honey, fruit, small rodents, and lizards.

Video of Sun Bear Eating Hard Fruit

(Click on video to start)

Interesting Facts Sun bears have very loose skin on the

back of their necks, so they can easily turn around and defend themselves if they are bitten by an attacker.

When the sun bears are young, they are playful and are sometimes kept as pets in Asia.

Video of Playful Sun Bears

(Click on video to start)

Threats to Survival Predators of the sun bear include other

bears, tigers, clouded leopards, and humans.

The Malayan sun bear is endangered because of poaching and destruction of its habitat.

Pictures

Six-month-old sun bear

Full grown sun bear

Physical AdaptationsPhysical Adaptation How it Aids SurvivalLoose skin on back of neck Helps them escape and fight off

predators

Dark fur Blends in with habitat, especially at night

Long tongue Helps them sip up nectar and get bugs out of wood

Feet point slightly inward Helps them climb trees

Large, naked paws Helps them climb trees

Long, curved claws Helps them climb trees

Extraordinarily large feet Assists with digging and breaking into dead wood in search of insects

Short hair Keeps them cooler in tropical climates

Large jaws Helps them break open hard fruit like coconuts

Large canine teeth Assists in defending against predators

Video Showing Physical Adaptations

(Click on video to start)

Behavioral AdaptationsBehavioral Adaptation How it Aids SurvivalDoes not hibernate Food is available year-

roundBecomes more nocturnal in areas near humans

Helps them avoid human hunters

Makes barking sound when threatened

Scares away predators

Rises up on hind legs when threatened

Makes it look bigger and helps scare away predators

Builds nests in trees Keeps them away from predators and closer to their food source

Cleveland Zoo Habitat

(Click picture to start video)

Suggested Improvements to Cleveland Zoo Habitat Put sun bear inside a heated space,

because their natural habitat is warm and tropical

The habitat should also be darker, because sun bears are mostly nocturnal when near humans

Include trees for the sun bear to climb since they are arboreal.

Give the sun bear a ball to play with, since sun bears are playful

Suggested Improvements, Continued Get another sun bear, because they are

social animals and are lonely without other bears

Include a source of nectar, so the bear can use its long tongue