Malayan sun bear

Malayan sun bear
A female Malayan sun bear sitting in her enclosure of zoo Basel
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Ursidae
Subfamily:	Ursinae
Genus:	Helarctos
Species:	H. malayanus
Subspecies:	H. m. malayanus
Trinomial name
Helarctos malayanus malayanus (Raffles, 1821)

The Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus malayanus) is a subspecies of sun bear, occurring in southeast Asia. ^[1] The Malayan sun bear's conservation status is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its population is decreasing due to threats like habitat loss from deforestation and commercial hunting, primarily for products like bear bile .

Taxonomy

The Malayan sun bear was first described by Stamford Raffles in 1821. ^[2] The Malayan sun can be found across Malaysia.^{[ citation needed ]}

Description

Although the sun bear is the smallest species in the bear family, its subspecies, the Malayan sun bear is even smaller, with a maximum length of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) and weight of 35–70 kg (77–154 lb). ^[2] The Malayan sun bear appears very similar to the sun bear,^{[ clarification needed ]} but is distinguishable by its golden-white chest patch, which is thinner than that of the sun bear. ^[3]

Distribution and habitat

The Malayan sun bear can be found in mainly coastal areas in southeast Asia, but is less dispersed within it than the sun bear,^{[ clarification needed ]} with specific populations living as follows: ^[1]

• Along the India–Myanmar border
• Western peninsular Malaysia
• Western Sumatra
• Inland Borneo
• Inland Indochina

Like the sun bear, the Malayan sun bear lives within rainforests (both evergreen and deciduous) of diverse altitudes, ranging from coastal, lowland areas to mountainous regions of above 2,000 m (6,600 ft). ^[2]

Ecology and behavior

Unlike the sun bear,^{[ clarification needed ]} the Malayan sun bear is primarily nocturnal, although it is also active in the daytime. ^[3] However, equally to the sun bear, they do not hibernate like other bears due to their warm, tropical environment, which provides nutrients all year round. ^[3]

Diet

Similarly to the sun bear,^{[ clarification needed ]} the Malayan sun bear is omnivorous and eats fruit, honey, and nuts. ^[4] The meat in their diet is composed of insects such as termites, bee larvae and beetle larvae. ^[2] They can reach these foods with their long tongues (which can reach 30 cm (1 ft)) and claws. ^[5]

Human relations

In 2025, the Malayan sun bear along with the Bornean sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), were selected to be new campaign mascots for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. ^[6]

References

1. "Malayan Sun Bear". Saint Louis Zoo. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
2. "Malayan sun bear". Bear Conservation. 18 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2025-08-30. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
3. "Malayan Sun Bear". Malaysian Wildlife. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
4. "Malayan sun bear at Belfast Zoo". Belfast Zoo. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
5. "Malayan Sun Bear". Saint Louis Zoo. Archived from the original on 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
6. "Sun bear to be face of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, symbol of conservation and charm". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2025-01-06.

• Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). "Helarctos malayanus malayanus". Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.