Sun Bears
The Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear species in the world and one of the least studied. They inhabit the tropical forests of South East Asia, ranging from the eastern tip of India, Bangladesh, through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Throughout their range, sun bears are being threatened by large scale habitat destruction, forest fires, poaching for their gall bladders and other body parts and illegal pet trade. The primary threat to wild sun bear populations in Indonesia is habitat loss. This in turn gives rise to conflict between humans and bears as bears pushed out of their natural habitat and occasionally enter gardens and feed on crops.
Sun bears have been protected in Indonesia since 1973. It is illegal to trade in or posses sun bears and their parts. Despite fairly good legal protection on paper, law enforcement in Indonesia is weak at its best. This also applies to many other rare and endangered species such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and clouded leopards. The Bornean lowland dipterocarp forests are extremely rich in biodiversity. Sadly, these forests are rapidly being destroyed by the over-harvesting of trees, conversion to oil palm plantations, and forest fires. Landslides, erosion, local droughts and flooding, are increasing in frequency due to this over-
exploitation and destruction.
In 1997, Gabriella Fredriksson began long term research on sun bears in the Sungai Wain Protection Forest. The forest, located with Balikpapan’s boundaries, is home to an estimated 50-100 wild sun bears. Gabriella’s research and conservation efforts generated publicity and focused attention on the sun bear. In 2001, Balikpapan, one of the largest cities on Indonesian Borneo, named the sun bear as its official mascot.
KWPLH Sun bear enclosure
Meet the bears
Bear Gallery
Links to more information about sun bears