Learn about sun bears, their size, habitat, and marking on their chests. Discover why bears climb trees and hibernate in winter. Explore the efforts to protect sun bears through education and research. Discover the unique aspects of sun bears' hibernation process and their sleeping habits. Dive into post-hibernation behavior, including increased appetite and diet.
Sun bears are threatened by habitat loss and human activities, leading to the need for conservation efforts.
Unlike other bear species, sun bears do not hibernate during winter and instead focus on gaining weight for survival.
Deep dives
Sun Bears: A Fascinating Species
Sun bears are an important animal in Southeast Asia, but they're under threat due to habitat loss and climate change. They are one of the smallest bear species, weighing about 35-45 kilograms. Sun bears can look like humans when they stand up on their hind legs, leading to some confusion. They have short black fur to protect them from rain in the tropical rainforests where they live. Sun bears are omnivores, eating a variety of fruits, invertebrates, and even meat like tortoises. They are skilled climbers and will sleep in tree cavities to stay safe from predators.
Threats to Sun Bears
Sun bears face various threats from humans, such as deforestation for timber and conversion of their habitat into agriculture land. This results in loss of habitat and exposes them to hunting and poaching. Humans also keep sun bear cubs as pets, unaware that they become wild and dangerous as they grow older. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center in Malaysia works to rescue sun bears, rehabilitate them, and raise awareness about their conservation. The recent social media attention on sun bears has shed light on their existence and increased interest in their protection.
Hibernation and Bear Habits
While some bear species, like black bears and brown bears, hibernate during the winter, sun bears do not. Hibernation allows bears to conserve energy during periods of low food availability. Bears prepare for hibernation by eating and gaining weight. During hibernation, their body temperature and heart rate decrease, and their breathing slows down. Bears don't eat, drink, pee, or poop during hibernation, but female black bears can give birth to cubs during this time. When they come out of hibernation, bears focus on gaining weight again by eating various foods, including berries, nuts, and fish.
We’re thinking about bears! Actually one specific type of bear: sun bears! Have you heard about this type of bear? They’re the smallest of the world’s bears, about half the size of a black bear. They live throughout southeast Asia and have a yellow or white crescent-shaped marking on their chests. We learn about sun bears with Wong Siew Te, a scientist and researcher who runs the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia. Also in this episode: Do bears live in caves? Why do they climb trees? Why do bears hibernate in winter? Naturalist Mary Holland answers questions about hibernation. And we are treated to A Bear Song by Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke!