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  • Rainforest Wild ASIA
  • Animals & Zones
  • Watering Hole
  • Sun bear

Sun Bear

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Watering Hole
  • Quick Facts
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  • Protecting Wildlife

Quick Facts

Lifespan

LifespanUp to 25 years in the wild, and up to 30 years under human care

Diet

DietInsects, honey, fruits, seeds, small vertebrates

Habitat

HabitatDense tropical rainforests and swamps

Range

RangeSoutheast Asia

Sun Bears

Sun bear climbing a tree

An Insectivorous Diet

Our sun bears enjoy a diet of ant eggs, silkworm larvae, meat, and plants—foods they would typically find in the wild. In their natural habitat, sun bears climb treetops in search of insects and sap.

Their strong jaw muscles, sharp canines, and curved claws help them crush tree bark to access burrowing insects or stingless bee nests. Their long tongues are perfect for extracting honey and insects from tiny crevices.

Sun bear looking for food

Receiving The Best Of Care

To keep them mentally and physically active, our keepers provide our bears with food enrichment, like hiding sunflower seeds under logs and rocks to encourage foraging.

A favourite treat? Honey-drizzled coconuts stuffed with sugarcane, which they crush easily with their powerful bites. On hot days, they enjoy frozen coconuts and ice blocks, while feeder balls and puzzle boxes with small cut pellets keep them further stimulated.

To ensure their sweet tooth doesn’t cause dental issues, the bears are trained for voluntary oral inspections, allowing stress-free dental care by our vets.

Sun bear looking out from its safe place

Small But Feisty

Agile and quick, the sun bear is as formidable as it is resourceful. Despite being the smallest bear species, the sun bear is among the fiercest creatures in Southeast Asia’s forests.

Known to take on tigers and large pythons when threatened, it has a dense, dark-brown coat and loose skin that lets it twist and bite back during a struggle.

Together, We Protect Wildlife

Managed Species Programmes

Managed Species Programmes

We work with other zoos through Managed Species Programmes to help save threatened species.

This involves the transfer of animals between zoos for breeding so that genetically healthy animal populations can be maintained under human care.

Transfers are based on genetic compatibility, which prevents inbreeding and ensures their genetic integrity. Our sun bears are part of this effort.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

Species Coordinators

Species Coordinators

Our staff coordinates the Southeast Asian Zoos and Aquariums (SEAZA) Species Management Programme for the species, which aims to ensure the survival of the species through coordinated breeding efforts among participating zoos.

However, the sun bear is notoriously difficult to breed under human care. Through hormone profile monitoring, the Veterinary Team aims to decipher the female’s estrous cycles and identify optimum timings to mix breeding pairs.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The Harsh Reality Of Bile Farming

The Harsh Reality Of Bile Farming

Bile secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladders of bears has been used in traditional medicine in Asia for centuries.

Contrary to the original intent of bear bile farms, there has been no evidence demonstrating any positive impact of bear bile farming on wild bear populations.

Despite it being illegal in Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic (Laos PDR), the cruel farming bears for their bile continues to be practiced.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

Free The Bears

Free The Bears

Free The Bears (FTB) works to rescue, research and protect vulnerable bear species in Southeast Asia. For the rescued bears, suitable facilities and a life-long sanctuary are required.

We help fund and support the management of two world-class wildlife rescue facilities for rescued Sun and Asiatic Black Bears - Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre and Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary (LPWS).

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

A Second Lease Of Life

A Second Lease Of Life

LPWS has cared for more than 30 other species of wildlife rescued from illegal trade including the critically endangered Sunda and Chinese pangolin, and comes fully equipped with facilities such as climbing towers, pools, caves, aerial walkways, and hammocks –designed to give their residents the best quality of life possible.

We are also proud to fund the continual building of veterinary and husbandry capacities, and continuous expansions and improvements to ensure that sufficient and suitable facilities are available for rescued bears and wildlife whenever required.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

Hope For The Bears

Hope For The Bears

Despite the many challenges, the overall number of bear bile farms and the number of bears held in bile farms have indicated positive signs of decline. There are estimated to be 100 bears held in farms in 2020.

We continue to stand behind Free the Bears in their goal to end the practice of bear bile farming in Laos PDR and provide life-long care facilities for rescued bears in a world-class sanctuary environment.

The IUCN Status

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species.

DD

Data Deficient

Unknown risk of extinction

LC

Least Concern

At relatively low risk of extinction

NT

Near Threatened

Likely to become vulnerable in the near future

VU

Vulnerable

At high risk of extinction in the wild

EN

Endangered

At very high risk of extinction in the wild

CR

Critically Endangered

At extremely high risk of extinction in the wild

EW

Extinct in the Wild

Survives only in captivity

EX

Extinct

No surviving individuals in the wild or in captivity

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