Description: Sun Bears have very short, smooth fur that varies from black to grey. They get the name ‘Sun Bear’ from the yellow rising-sun-shaped patch on their chest. Sun Bears have very long, curved claws which are helpful in tree climbing and extracting food from logs.

Diet: Sun Bears are omnivores and eat a range of fruit, eggs, honey, grubs, small mammals and shoots.

In the wild: Very little is actually known about Sun Bears in the wild because they are difficult to track and observe. They are mostly nocturnal and spend the day sleeping and sunbathing in trees. Unlike other bears, Sun Bears do not hibernate. This is because food is available all year round.

Threats: Habitat destruction and poaching are major threats to the Sun Bear. Bear paw soup is a delicacy in some Asian cultures. Restaurants keep the bears in small cages in cruel conditions and their paws are cut off to make the soup.

Saving Wildlife Together: With your support we’re working with Free the Bears to fund research programs for Sun Bears in Southeast Asia, assisting protection and conservation activity in the wild. Find out how you can help.

At Perth Zoo: Perth Zoo’s Project Sun Bear campaign raised over $330,000 to help build a new home at Perth Zoo for two rescued Sun Bears from Cambodia. They can be seen in the Asian Rainforest.

Adopt a Sun Bear at Perth Zoo and support your favourite animal, protect other threatened species and help important conservation work around the world.