Mammal

Sun Bear

Area: 
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo
Habitat: 
Tropical forests
Food: 
Insects, small birds, fruit, honey, lizards, rodents, and the soft parts of palm trees.
Size: 
3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet long
Babies: 
Cubs are born hairless and helpless, unable to hear or smell.
The sun bear is the smallest type of bear.
Small, but Mighty

 

The sun bear’s name comes from the white or yellowish marking on its chest, which many people think looks like the rising or setting sun. Other names for this bear include “dog bear” and “honey bear.”

 

Sun bears like to make their homes in the branches of trees. Their small size, 4-inch-long clawsThe fingernails of an animal, such as a bear or cat. They help to grab prey. In birds, they're called talons., and large paws help them move easily in trees. They build a nest for resting or sunbathing in the treetops.

 

Sun bears have an especially long tongue. It helps them reach honey and insects inside of trees and other tight places. Their appetite for coconuts, oil palms, and other crops have led to trouble between these bears and humans who farm these crops.