# Are Sun Bears Endangered?

> Are sun bears endangered? Status Vulnerable, main threats, and what protection means.

- **Species:** Sun Bear (*Helarctos malayanus*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Omnivore — fruit, honey, insects, small vertebrates, and palm hearts
- **Habitat:** Lowland and montane tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia
- **Lifespan:** 20–25 years in the wild (longer in captivity)
- **Top speed:** Agile climber; short ground sprints to escape threats
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/are-sun-bear-endangered/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The sun bear is the smallest bear species, weighing 25–65 kg (55–145 lb) with a distinctive golden chest patch and long tongue for reaching honey and insects. Found in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, it is listed Vulnerable due to deforestation and the illegal pet and bile trade.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Sun Bear profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/) instead.

## Chest patch and tree life

The sun bear's U- or crescent-shaped chest mark varies from pale yellow to orange and may help with individual recognition. Unlike larger bears, sun bears spend much of their time in trees, using long curved claws and bare-soled feet to climb in search of fruit, honey, and insects.

## Help protect the Sun Bear

Sun bears lose rainforest to logging and palm-oil expansion, and cubs are poached for the pet and bile trade.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/are-sun-bear-endangered/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.