Sun bears often stand upright like humans, and mothers even walk around cradling their babies in their arms.
**Name:** Sun Bear (*Helarctos malayanus*)
**Habitat:** Southeast Asia
**Diet:** Ants, bees, beetles, honey, termites, fruit, plants, small mammals, and birds
**Why It’s Fascinating:** Sun bears are the smallest bear species in the world and are known for their distinctive appearance and behavior. They often stand on their hind legs, which can make them look surprisingly human-like and has led to them being mistaken for people in costumes.
Sun bears weigh between 60 and 150 pounds (30 to 70 kilograms) and measure about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) in length. This is significantly smaller compared to other bear species like grizzly bears, which can exceed 700 pounds (320 kilograms).
Native to countries such as Malaysia, China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, sun bears are named for the golden or white patch on their chests, which resembles the rising sun. Despite their nickname “dog bears,” referring to their compact build and short muzzles, they are notable for their arboreal lifestyle and human-like behavior.
Sun bears often stand upright to access food, such as fruit and honey, and to dig into beehives and termite nests. Their exceptionally long tongue, measuring up to 12 inches (30 centimeters), is adapted to extract insects from these sources.
In addition to foraging, sun bears stand on their hind legs to survey their surroundings and potentially ward off predators like tigers. The upright posture helps them detect threats from a distance and display their distinctive chest patch as a deterrent.
Female sun bears have been observed walking on their hind legs while carrying their young, which may assist in keeping an eye out for predators and moving their offspring safely.
Recently, a captive sun bear named Angela gained widespread attention after videos of her standing upright and waving at visitors went viral. Her behavior, coupled with her appearance, led some viewers to mistakenly believe she was a person in a costume.
Sun bears are known for their ability to communicate and mimic each other’s facial expressions, a trait shared with humans. Research published in *Nature* in 2019 found that captive sun bears use these skills to build social bonds. Biologists suggest that their adept tree-climbing skills may contribute to their behavior, including standing and waving.
However, sun bears face significant threats and are classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. They are endangered by habitat loss and illegal hunting, particularly for their bile, which is used in traditional medicine, and their paws, which are consumed as food.