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Flashcard Quiz

Test you knowledge on sun bears by completing the quiz below! Learn more and find the answers at the bottom of the page.

Answers

1. Not at all

  • Sun bears are diurnal, which means that they are non-nocturnal. Hence, they are active during the daytime and do not hibernate.

2. Omnivore

  • Sun bears primarily feed on honey, fruits, and invertebrates.

3. To feed on honey and insects

  • The long tongues are used to extract termites, beetle and bee larvae, as well as to feed on honey

       from bee hives.

4. On trees

  • Sun bears are found in the tropical forests and they build nests in trees to sleep in.

5. Helarctos malayanus

  • The genus Helarctos (sun bear) is the only bear species in Southeast Asia.

6. Commercial hunting, pet trade, and habitat loss

  • Sun bears are primarily hunted for their gall bladders which are used for Chinese folk medicine and their paws as an expensive delicacy.

  • Being the smallest bear in the word, the cubs are often considered incredibly cute and there is a high demand for them as pets. Many cubs are removed from the wild - orphaned!

  • Like many other species, deforestation and degradation of habitat has dramatically decreased their numbers.

7. Vulnerable

  • Sun bears are listed as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. The approximate amount of sun bears are thought to be around 7,000 left.

8. They have a golden patch on their chest

  • Their name comes from the pale horseshoe shape on their chests that resembles the setting and rising of the sun.

9. Southeast Asia

  • Sun bears are found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. The known distribution range of sun bears are in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, SouthernChina, and Malaysia.

10. All of the answers

  • Sun bears help disperse seeds of fruits and other plants after consuming them

  • Their long tongues are used to feed on insects too - which includes termites! This helps control the population of termites in the forests in which they live in.

  • Sun bears also dig for invertebrates in the soil, which means that the rich and poor soil are often mixed together. This helps to enhance the forest's nutrient cycle.

  • They also create nesting sites for other animals like the hornbills and flying squirrels, by tearing open tree trunks to get honey.

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