Sun Bear

Wandering through a dense forest in southern China, a sun bear comes across a log. He gives it a sniff and then opens his mouth. A nearly ten-inch-long tongue rolls out! Maneuvering the massive tongue under the log, the bear slurps up the tasty insects that crawl beneath until his belly is full.

Common Name:

Sun Bear

Scientific Name:

Helarctos malayanus

Type:

Mammals

Diet:

Omnivore

Average Life Span In The Wild:

Up to 25 years

Size:

4 to 5 feet long

Weight:

60 to 150 pounds

BEAR BEDS

Sun bears are named for the golden patches of fur on their chests, which some people say resemble a rising sun. While their tongues may be extra-big, sun bears are actually the smallest bear species. Males grow about 5 feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds—that’s about half the size of an adult American black bear.

These animals live in wooded areas of Southeast Asia. Strong and agile, sun bears are good at climbing trees. They spend a lot of time in tree canopies and even build "beds" of twigs and leaves on the branches to sleep in.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Sun bears chow down insects, leaves, lizards, and berries. But the sun bear’s favorite snack is honey. To get the treat, they rip open beehives with their sharp claws. Then the bears use their superlong tongues to extract the honey inside, often gobbling up bees with the sticky sweet. Thick fur and skin protect the bear from the angry bees. That’s nothing to stick your tongue out at.