Sun bears have a very high metabolism and can eat up to 30% of their body weight in one day. 58. Their behaviour protects and maintains the environment around them . Sloth bears live in warm places with abundant food, so they dont need to hibernate. 47. It is thought that they do not hibernate, as in the ranges they occupy food is generally available all year round. Here are 14 reasons why you'll love sun b. 39. Sign up! Sun bears are found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Sloth bears live in warm regions around South Asia like India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The scent gland is under their short tail. Better yet, they tend to avoid places where humans live and hang out at all costs. 2. Even though these are far from small animals, they are dwarfed by some of their bigger family members such as the Polar bear and giant panda. The downside is that bears dont have good hearing. He gives it a sniff and then opens his mouth. A: A gummy bear. Scientists also use the Latin Ursus maritimus (sea bear) and the Greek Thalarctos (bear of the Northern Sea). So what do we know about them? You might have even seen its image on the reverse of the Canadian $20 bill. Now onto some bear facts for preschoolers and kids! This has led to more hybrids such as the offspring of brown bears and polar bears. Their most favorites hobby is to tear open hollow trees with their enormous claws in the hope to find wild bees and honey, which is their ultimate treat! Twice the size of the biggest modern bear, it was 6' 5" tall at the shoulder when standing on all fours. Bear Like human children, bear cubs are extremely playful; and just like human mothers, if things get too rough, mother bears will make them stop to protect them from hurting themselves. Hibernation is a means of energy conservation, and different species hibernate due to various reasons including food shortage and temperature fluctuations. 88. Check out this short clip! These animals also live quite long as they generally live over 20 years and some individuals even over 30 years! Sun bears are found in Southeast Asia, particularly innortheastern India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. They spend 12-14 hrs a day devouring up to 40 kg of bamboo. They are the smallest of all bears. The Sun Bear has a unique and fascinating anatomy that has allowed it to adapt to life in the dense, tropical forests of Southeast Asia. After eight weeks, cubs are born tiny and lightweight at under half a pound. The bear that a person living in North America is most likely to run into is the black bear. But they can smell much better. A polar bear can swim up to 100 miles without resting. Asiatic black bears, American black bears, some brown bear species, and pregnant polar bears hibernate. Because of their decreasing habitat size, due mainly to deforestation, sun bears are encroaching into areas occupied by humans. 55. Playing dead is only effective when trying to escape a grizzly defending her cubs, not when a predatory bear is hunting you down as its prey (throwing rocks and sticks is more appropriate). The two-inch claws help catch prey and add traction on ice. 1. We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Sun Bear! Especially in Bangladesh and China where the numbers of individuals have dropped by 35%. Its why theyre able to climb trees and build nests there. If so, then have a read of this lovely article. Sun bears are the smallest with most adults only reaching at 4 ft and 60 lbs. That U-shape isnt necessarily consistent across all sun bears, though. The bears can be found in forests around the foothills of the Himalayas, China, and mainland Southeast Asia. It should not be confused with the kinkajou found in Central and South America, which is also sometimes called a honey bear and is much much much different than the sun bear. A short layer of fur keeps the bear warm. 86. - Jungle Tracks, 7 Most Affectionate Dog Breeds - Jungle Tracks. It is not cool to have a sun bear as a pet. Unfortunately and obviously, humans are the biggest threat to sun bears. North America is home to three of the worlds eight bear species: brown, American black, and polar bears. 5Schwabacher, Martin. Scientists discovered an ancient bear that weighed between 2,000 and 3,500 pounds. They are a distinct species of the genus Helarctos and there are two recognized subspecies, the Malayan sun bear (H. m. malayanus) and the Bornean sun bear (H. m. euryspilus). In the middle of hibernation, females will rise to push out as many as four cubs. Koalas are often mistaken for bears, but they are actually marsupials that carry their babies in a pouch. Molly NZ/Shutterstock.com. Its great for extracting termites and other insects from logs, which they use their sharp claws to crack open. Remarkably, the range of the Asian black bear and sun bear overlaps quite a bit in mainland Asia. Here is a brief description of the anatomy of a Sun Bear: Body: Sun bears have a short, sleek black fur coat that is very dense and shiny. In Asia, bear cubs are often taken from their mothers at an early age to be trained as, People in Asian cultures have traditionally used bear organs and secretions for medicinal purposes. Sun bears are the smallest species of bear in the world. Sun Bears sunbathes or sleeps in trees 2 to 7 metres (7 to 23 feet) above the ground. All bears are good swimmers, but the polar bear is the most efficient swimmer. 9. Bears Bears Bear Facts Learn More 1. They scratch the bark off for soft bedding material. Their menu consists of fruits, insects, small mammals, eggs, honey, and sometimes even fish. However some have been observed foraging at night. A bears canines can reach 1.5" long, while a humans are less than a half inch long. Did you know that the average hibernator weighs only 70 grams? Scientists believe this is because it needs a strong jaw and neck muscles to eat bamboo, which makes up 99% of its diet. They can be found sunbathing and hanging out in trees at least 20 feet above the ground. Over 25 amazing fun facts about Sun Bear, 25 fun facts about Sun Bear for kids, plus learn more about where they live, what they eat, what they do, and so much more! A male bear is called a boar or a he-bear. A female bear is called a sow or a she-bear. Of course, they should not be confused with the extinct bear dog, which disappeared around 8 million years ago. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is one of the rarest bear species in the world. What are some fun facts about sun bears? 4. Their shaggy fur does not have an undercoat, so it keeps them relatively cool in their native, warm climate and . Despite their weight, they are very skilled at running, climbing, and swimming. Or that bears can smell over 2,000 times better than humans? Their omnivorous food plan, solitary nature, and endangered nature add to their intrigue and emphasize the necessity for conservation. Its body can somehow recycle body waste into. Although they live alone, they do gather together during the breeding season, which generally happens from May to July. They can climb tall trees quickly due to their strong teeth and long claws gripping the trunk. It takes 25 days more before they can finally see their first glimpses of the world around them! Two constellations are named after bears: Ursa Major (Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (Little Bear). Your email address will not be published. Not all mammals can see colors. The Ursa Major or Great Bear constellation is the third-largest constellation and contains the Big Dipper. Sun bears are mostly active during the day. Sun bear chest patterns are mostly u-shaped. 89 Interesting Facts About Bears By Editorial Staff Last updated on December 30th, 2022 Bears, belonging to the family Ursidae, are majorly found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears often return to food sources. 15. They also have the most extended tongues, which can reach about 9.8 long. Their tongues also appear extremely long and this helps when licking/eating up insects or extracting honey from a hive (they can also eat the bees, too). The Sun Bear, also known as the honey bear or Malayan sun bear, is the smallest species of bear in the world. The claws on the front feet of bears are longer than the claws on the back feet. However, due to habitat loss and poaching, sun bear populations are declining, and they are listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Theyve also been eradicated in significant portions of Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam. To show their respect, they sang and danced and prayed that the bear would forgive them for killing it. Sun bears are primarily solitary animals, who prefer to be alone over social interactions. Scientists believe it had very long legs and chased antelope on the North American prairies. Sun bears are very curious animals and enjoy exploring their surroundings. Unfortunately, they are now extinct in Singapore, disappearing sometime during the 19th and early 20th century. It wasnt until 2017 that sightings were confirmed in Yingjiang County, western Yunnan Province, near the border of Myanmar. These bears inhabit Southeast Asias dense tropical rainforests. Some farmers hunt sun bears and consider them pests because they have been known to graze for bananas, coconuts, and livestock. The Bornean sun bear can only be found on the third-largest island in the world, Borneo, which is part of Indonesia. . Do we need to run for our lives if we happen to encounter one of these animals in the wild? People believe these bears, as they are small, arent aggressive so will make a good pet. 8. They are generally quiet animals but can make a variety of vocalizations, including grunts, moans, and roars. This also produces the bright eyeshine when you flash a light on them at night. These bears have an interesting walk, with all four legs turned in while walking. They are native to tropical forests in Southeast Asia Sun Bears are one of the 8 members of the family Ursidae, better known as the bears. Also their paws lack fur which helps them grasp bark when climbing. This species does not go through periods of hibernation, probably because they live in tropical areas and their food sources are present year round. 18. Spectacled bears are the only wild bears that live in South America. As they move around, they disperse these and help plants spread. When bears mate, the eggs within the females body are fertilized but do not implant in her uterus and begin developing for several months. It had broken into a cooler and used its claws and teeth to open dozens of. The scientific name for brown bears is Ursus arctos. Sun bears are known as very fierce animals when surprised in the forest. The paws are large, and the soles are naked, which is thought to be an adaptation for climbing trees. An 18th century explorer coined the term polar bear. Like other species of bears, their molar teeth are not capable of shearing flesh, but it can definitely grind vegetables and bushes. In addition to the fun facts about Sun Bear, here are some animals like the Sun Bear. A bears normal heartbeat is 40 beats per minute. They have a stocky, muscular body, with a broad chest and short legs. Most bears are born without fur. The python possibly had come across the sleeping bear. They weigh from 27 to 80 kg (60176 lb). Tigers, leopards and clouded leopards are potential predators, although the clouded leopard could be too small to kill an adult sun bear. When moving around areas with bears, it is a good idea to make some noise by singing or talking loudly. While they gain their sight, their hearing improves, and they get the full strength of both senses when theyre around 50 days old. Their fur is rather coarse but appears sleek. Want to get updates in your inbox whenever we post something new? Animals Wildlife 10 Interesting Facts About Bears Bears are one of the most popular animals, but how much do you know about them? Status IUCN Status: Vulnerable due to deforestation, illegal poaching and the Asian bile trades. Around 750,000 black bears are found in North America. Ruff Day? Sun bears are carnivores and feed on small animals like birds, lizards, rodents, and even deer but they can also be pretty vegetarian. Other bear species can only walk on two legs for short distances before reverting to all fours. By learning their behaviors, people can feel safer and more confident around them. The scientific name Helarctos Malayanus means sun bear of Malaya in Greek. Sloth bears are the only bears that are more active at night. Sun bears are agile and can move quickly through the forest canopy, often moving from tree to tree. This is useful in blocking dust while raiding termite nests. Accessed: January 25, 2012. 6Schwirtz, Michael. 2. One bear was spotted opening up a cupboard in which sugar was stored with its claws, and a 2019 study concluded something even more fascinating. Sun bears have mainly been observed as diurnal, carrying out most of their feeding activities during the day. Watch on Distribution Sun bears are found in Southeast Asia, particularly in northeastern India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Back in the 19th century, these animals were even tamed to serve as regular pets! Sloth bears have shaggy, dusty-black coats; pale, short-haired muzzles; and long, curved claws which they use to excavate termites and ants. Another interesting characteristic is the very short snout of these bears. Sun Bears get their Name from the Patch on their Chest. They see which plants are good to eat, where to find them, and which foods are available in each season.