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Individual Presentation on selected endangered speciesMARIE MAGDALENE ROBERT SUIMINM2013 1000 476

Cubs should be with their mother until 2yoOrphaned cub in cage

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Malayan Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus

ClassificationKingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderCarnivoraFamilyUrsidaeGenusHelarctosSpecies malayanus Sub-species euryspilus (in Borneo)DescriptionThe smallest of the worlds eight living bear species short, sleek fur which is usually black but can range from reddish-brown to grey. chest patch - yellow, orange, or white, speckled or spotted. broad muzzle; short and a large headsmall, rounded ears, a fleshy foreheadextremely long tongue (longest of all bear species). With feet turned slightly inward, large naked paws and long curved claws, - well adapted for climbing trees. The Malayan sun bear has very loose skin around the neck so that if bitten on the back of the neck by another bear, a tiger or clouded leopard, the bear can turn in its skin to bite back of its attacker.

Malayan sun bear biology

opportunisticomnivore, (eat termites and ants, beetlelarvae, beelarvae, honey and a large variety of fruit species, especially figs).also eat small rodents, birds and lizards. diurnal, spending most day hours foragingdoes not hibernate, as food is available year round.Little is known about sun bear reproduction and cub rearing in the wild. Usually females are only seen with one cub and very rarely with two after agestationperiod of approximately 95 daysdelayed implantation to ensure that cubs are born when the mother has sufficient fat reserves, the weather is favourable, and seasonally important foods are available, however this is not known. give birth in dens or hollow trees where the cub is born naked and helpless.It remains protected for some period of time until it is able to venture out to accompany the mother while she forages and travelscubs remain with their mother until they are fully grown at around two years old.

Malayan sun bear range

The range of the Malayan sun bear is not well documented - historically or presently. throughout Southeast Asia from the eastern edge of India andnorthern Burma, to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailandsouth to Peninsular Malaysia and theislands of Sumatra and Borneo. extinct in Tibet, Bangladesh and possibly Yunnan, southern China

Malayan sun bear habitatThe Malayan sun bear inhabits bothprimaryand logged, dense Southeast Asian tropical foreststropical evergreen rainforest, montane forest (up to 2,000 metres above sea level)swamp habitatMalayan sun bear importanceFasten the decomposition of fallen trees / dead woods by tearing them into small pieces with their claws insect foragingMaintain diversity in the bear genus.Malayan sun bear status

Malayan sun bear threatsHabitat loss, fragmentationDegradationhuman encroachment illegal logging Plantations (coffee, rubber plants and oil palms). poaching, even within protected areas, to serve the trade in bear parts. Bear gall bladders and bile products are used in traditional medicines (despite the fact that many herbal alternatives are equally beneficial, more readily available, legal and cheaper)capture of sun bears as petshuman-bear conflictsfire and drought - Declining food availability starvationAs a result of this ongoing habitat loss and excessive human-caused mortality, many sun bear populations have already become extinct.Malayan sun bear conservationThe Malayan sun bear is understudied, and little conservation action has been targeted at it.prohibits international tradekilling of the sun bear is prohibited under national wildlife protection laws, (BUT little enforcement of these laws occurs).The Malayan sun bear is part of an international captive breeding programme and has a Species Survival Program under the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. More research is required as only recently have field studies started to investigate the basic biology, ecology, and behaviour of wild sun bears. Conservation of sun bears needs to focus on protection of their forest habitat, proper management of these areas, strict enforcement of their legal status, minimizing human-bear conflict near forest areas, and halting trade in bear parts.It would be great if your grandchildren know me too..

REFERENCESwww.oaklandzoo.org/Sunbears_Conservation.phphttp://news.mongabay.com/2008/0925-wcn_wong_interview.htmlhttp://www.arkive.org/malayan-sun-bear/helarctos-malayanus/http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/9760/0http://sunbears.wildlifedirect.org/category/bear-farming/http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0131-isaacs-bear-bile.htmlhttp://www.diodati.org/pn/?a=286&o2=James_Siddall_jr please use this one if you want to integrate awareness about sun bears in classroom. Very moving