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 The
Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest
of the eight bear species. It remains the least known bear species
in the world and the most neglected large mammal species in Southeast
Asia (Servheen 1999). Even basic biology such as food habits,
home range size and reproductive biology is unknown. Until recently,
very little research has been conducted to investigate sun bear
ecology, and there have been no organized surveys of its distribution
and population densities (Meijaard 1997). The lack of biological
information on the sun bear is a serious limitation to conservation
efforts (Servheen 1999). This project was designed to study basic
information on the biology and ecology of the sun bear to determine
movement and activity patterns, food habits, home range sizes,
seasonal habitat use and population density of the only tropical
forest member of the family Ursidae.
Ecological research on the Malayan sun bear was conducted in
Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo from June 1998
to December 2000. Six Malayan sun bears were captured and fitted
with radio collars. Ground tracking of these radioed bears began
soon after the release of the captured bears in order to collect
ecological and behavioral information. These ecological data included
location and home ranges, activity patterns, food habits, bedding
sites, and density surveys. Other ecological information on the
forest habitat of the bears such as tree phenology, fruit production
and decayed wood abundances also were surveyed. We found that
the sun bear home range may be as large as 33 square kilometers
and overlaps both primary and logged forest. They are generally
diurnal animals but may rarely be active during the night. Termites,
beetles, and beetle larvae were the most important invertebrate
food items in their diet. Figs were another important food item
in the bears' diet when they were available. Sightings and captured
bears and bearded pigs in extremely poor physical condition, together
with the photographs from automatic camera traps, indicated that
these animals suffered from starvation during the non-fruiting
season.
Excerpt from the North American Regional Studbook for the Sun
Bear - 2002
Paper by Siew Te Wong and Christopher Servheen, Wildlife Biology
Program, School of Forestry, University of Montana.
Meijaard, E. 1997. The Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
on Borneo, with special emphasis on its conservation status in
Kalimantan, Indonesia. International MOF Tropendos Kalimantan
Project and the World Society of the Protection of Animal. London.
51 pp.
Servheen, C. 1999. Sun bear conservation action plan. Pp. 219-222
in Servheen, C., S. Herrero and B. Peyton, compilers. 1999. Bears-Status
Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
309 pp.
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