sun bear (helatroctos malayanus)
other names
Malayan Sun Bear
Dog Bear
Honey Bear
Dog Bear
Honey Bear
Little is known about these bears in the wild because they are very difficult to track and observe. Sun Bears are nocturnal (asleep in the day and awake at night). They will spend there day sleeping or sunbathing in a good tree. Sun bears got their name because of the shape on their chests, which legend says represents the rising sun.
description
The Sun Bear is the smallest type of Bear in the world! Sun Bear can grow up to 1.1–1.4 meters long. They weigh up to 50–65 kg. There long, curved claws help them climb climb trees and getting food from logs.
habitat
They live in some of South-east Asia's Tropical and lowland Rainforests.
diet & feeding
Sun Bears are omnivores (they eat plants & meat). Their diet consists of fruits, egg, grubs,small mammals and plants new growth. Unlike most bears, Sun Bears don't hibernate because there is food all year round! Sun Bears tongue is 25 cm long. They use their tongue to get grubs, honey and other foods that are in holes or crevices. This bear will also put its paws into termites nests. When the termites crawl onto he bear’s paws, they will then be licked off.
breeding & caring for young
The female Sun Bear is pregnant for 96 days! gosh I wish it took that long with humans. The Female will have 1-3 young.
THREATS
The Sun Bears status is Vulnerable. One of their main threats is habitat destruction mainly for palm oil plantations. And Bear Paw Soup. This is a delicacy in some Asian countries. They keep them in small, cruel cages. Then they chop off their hands for Bear Paw Soup!
conservation
One of Taronga Zoos Sun Bears was rescued when he was a cub. He was rescued from a restaurant that was going to make him into bear paw soup! Taronga Zoo has now made a new app that you can report animal products and more. Now he lives happily at Taronga Zoo.
how you can help
- Spread The Message.
- Don't buy and support Bear Pour Soup and places that sell it.
- Have a palm oil free diet.
- Raise money & support Sun Bear.
- Send letters to the government about protecting their habitat, making palm oil illegal and to stop making Bear Paw Soup.
image credits
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/bear_sun.htm
http://100curiosidadesdelmundo.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/los-animales-mas-raros-y-sorprendentes.html
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevenstring-guitars/267156-ngd-mayones-duvell-prototype-pics-clip-initial-thoughts-2.html
http://100curiosidadesdelmundo.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/los-animales-mas-raros-y-sorprendentes.html
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevenstring-guitars/267156-ngd-mayones-duvell-prototype-pics-clip-initial-thoughts-2.html