Page 41 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Bears
Small but mighty
Mostly found in the tropical forests of
Southeast Asia, these are the smallest,
rarest and least studied of all the bear
species. Their name comes from the white
and yellow markings on its chest, which
appear to resemble a rising and setting
Sun. Like a human fingerprint, each bear’s
crest is unique.
These nocturnal mammals spend most
of their time snacking on insects, fruits,
small birds, lizards and rodents. But their
favourite snack is honey, giving the sun
bear their other nickname, ‘honey bear’,
SUN BEAR
Helarctos malayanus
Lifespan Up to 25 years
Adult weight 27-68kg
(60-150lbs)
Conservation status
VULNERABLE
which the bears eat with their long, narrow
tongues. This ability also allows them to
eat insects hidden within a tree’s crevices.
Their ten-centimetre (four-inch) claws on
each paw allow them to climb, as well
as rip open trees and insect nests to get
to the delicious goodness within. Their
powerful canines can tear through meat,
and powerful jaws provide a bite force
that’s nearly comparable to a jaguar’s.
These shy and elusive animals are facing
serious threats due to deforestation,
poaching and the illegal pet trade.
Sun bears are roughly
half the size of the
American black bear
5 BEAR
FACTS
1>How far polar
bears go
Polar bears have been recorded
swimming continuously for over
100 kilometres (60 miles). Melting
sea ice may be causing polar
bears to swim farther in their
search for food.
2>All about food
A giant panda eats for roughly 12
hours each day, and they need to
eat about 13 kilograms (28 pounds)
of bamboo each day.
3>Kermodism
Mostly found in the Great Bear
Rainforest, spirit bears are black
bears that have white fur. Estimates
suggest that there could only be
400 left as they are threatened by
habitat loss and loss of food.
4>Excuse you
When sloth bears are eating, they
make sucking sounds that can be
heard from up to 100 metres (330
feet) away.
5>Paddington bear
Spectacled bears are the only
bear species in South America,
and they are the inspiration for
© Getty Michael Bond’s fictional character
Paddington Bear.
© Thinkstock
A spirit bear’s favourite
food is Pacific salmon.
They are more successful
at hunting than their
black bear counterparts
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