The sun bear is a small species of bear that lives in the tropical rainforests of South-East Asia. It has dark brown to black fur with a yellow-tan face and muzzle with a distinctive orange-coloured crescent marking across its upper chest. The sun bear has a broad head, long oblong snout and small rounded ears. Males and females look the same, but males are 10% to 20% larger than females. They measure between 120 and 150cm in length and weigh between 27 and 65kg.
Latin Name
Helarctos malayanus
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Animal Facts
The sun bear is the smallest bear species.
Sun bear cubs are born blind and hairless.
Sun bears are also known as ‘honey bears’ because of their love of honey and their habit of breaking open beehives to get it.
The sun bear’s tongue is 20-25cm long; it uses its tongue to extract insects and honey.
Sun bears can copy each other’s facial expression; a primate-like behaviour.
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