Sun Bear

The sun bear is the smallest living bear, standing approximately 70 cm at the shoulder and measuring 1.2–1.5 m from head to tail. It has a short, broad head, small rounded ears, a gray to faintly orange muzzle, and a sleek-looking but coarse black coat. A variable yellowish or white marking commonly forms a U shape across the chest, although it can be absent. Large paws, naked soles, and curved, sickle-shaped claws assist movement through trees. (Animal Diversity Web)

Sun bears inhabit dense lowland tropical forests from the eastern Himalayas and Sichuan south through Myanmar, Indochina, and the Malay Peninsula. They are mainly nocturnal, solitary, and agile climbers that sleep or sun themselves in trees two to seven metres above ground. Unlike bears from seasonal climates, they do not hibernate because tropical foods remain available throughout the year. They are opportunistic omnivores whose principal foods include bees, termites, and earthworms, with fruit eaten when available. Their long tongue extracts insects and honey from confined spaces. (Animal Diversity Web)