Sun bear

Sun bears rarely exceed 70 kilograms, yet they wield enormous claws perfect for tearing into termite mounds or climbing trees. Their jet-black fur contrasts with a pale crescent on the chest, said to resemble the rising sun. Unlike other bears, sun bears lack a thick winter coat and instead have short, sleek hair that sheds tropical heat. Their flexible tongues extend up to 25 centimeters, making them expert honey thieves and insect hunters.

These bears occupy dense lowland rainforests across mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Mostly nocturnal, they sleep in tree nests during the day and forage at night for beetle grubs, fruit, and honey. By shredding rotting logs and ant nests, sun bears aerate soil and spread seeds from the fruit they eat. When threatened, they stand on hind legs, showing their chest patch while emitting loud roars and swipes from dagger-like claws.

Sun bears typically lead solitary lives except when mothers raise cubs. Litters usually contain one or two cubs born in sheltered tree hollows. Mothers nurse for up to 18 months and teach cubs how to scale trees and tear apart logs. Because resources are scattered, bears maintain large home ranges and communicate through scent marks and clawed tree trunks.

Deforestation for palm oil plantations, logging, and illegal hunting for pets or bear bile are the main threats. Forest fragmentation leaves isolated populations vulnerable to poachers and reduces fruit availability. Conservation groups establish protected corridors, rescue cubs confiscated from wildlife markets, and work with communities to certify palm oil grown without clearing primary forests. Researchers deploy camera traps to estimate populations in remote peat swamps and track how restored forests attract returning bears.