{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "sun-bear",
  "name": "Sun Bear",
  "scientificName": "Helarctos malayanus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "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.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Ursidae",
    "genus": "Helarctos"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 45,
    "lengthM": 1.4,
    "topSpeedKmh": 30,
    "lifespanYears": 25
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Helarctos malayanus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore — fruit, honey, insects, small vertebrates, and palm hearts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Lowland and montane tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "20–25 years in the wild (longer in captivity)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "25–65 kg (55–145 lb); males larger than females"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Agile climber; short ground sprints to escape threats"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Lowland and montane tropical rainforests of Borneo, Sumatra, peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Helarctos malayanus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Helarctos%20malayanus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Helarctos malayanus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Helarctos_malayanus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Sun Bear.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_bear"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sun-bear/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}