Native Animals
Helarctos malayanus
Malayan Sun Bear
VU
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2017
VU
Vulnerable
Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
ver 3.1, 2009
Taxonomy
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Kingdom
-
Phylum
-
Class
-
Order
-
Family
-
Genus
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Specific Epithetmalayanus (Raffles, 1821)
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Common Name
- Beruang (Malay)
- Beruang Matahari (Malay)
- Malay Bear (English)
- Malayan Sun Bear (English)
- Sun Bear (English)
-
ResidentialNative
The taxonomic status is pending for approval
Description
The Malayan Sun Bear or Beruang Matahari is scientifically known as Helarctos malayanus. Its common name is based on the U-shaped golden yellowish mark on its chest that resembles the sun. The bear can grow up to 150 cm in length and 65 kg in weight making it the world’s smallest bear.
Among bear species, H. malayanus is the only tropical bear species that inhabits tropical lowland rainforests throughout much of Southeast Asia (Servheen, 1999). It is mainly distributed in the tropical evergreen rainforests of Borneo, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia.
Helarctos malayanus is a skillful climber with long curved claws that enables it to adapt to a largely arboreal lifestyle. It also has loose skin which enables it to twist or turn around when being bitten to defend itself against predators. Another remarkable feature of the Malayan Sun Bear is its long tongue which is used to extract grubs and honey from nests. The Malayan Sun Bear is an omnivore; it feeds on fruits, insects, small mammals and birds (Wong et al., 2002).
Habits
| No | Part | Habit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Carnivore — The eating of animals
|
Habitats
| No | Description | Suitability | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Forest → Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
|
Suitable | Unknown |
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3
Assessment
| Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 2009 | Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia |
Vulnerable (VU)
Peninsular Malaysia
|
3.1 |
| 2008 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 1996 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Data Deficient (DD)
|
N/A |
| 1994 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
N/A |
| 1990 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
N/A |
Relationship
Specimen
| Collection Center | Dried | Live | Slide | Wet | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 3 |
Biodiversity Experts
| Profile | |
|---|---|
|
Amal Ghazali Nasron (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals, Insects,
Biodiversity, Conservation & Forest
|
|
Amy Then Yee Hui (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Fishes (Ecology), Seahorses (Ecology), Mammals (Ecology),
Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Andrew Alek Tuen (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
|
Mammals, Birds,
Protected Areas
|
|
Badrul Munir Md Zain (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
|
Mammals (Taxonomy),
|
|
Chong Ju Lian (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals (Ecology), Vascular (Ecology),
Invasive Alien Species, Protected Areas, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Marine & Coastal & Climate Change
|
|
David Magintan (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals, Elephants,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Environment & Protected Areas
|
|
Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
|
Mammals, Bats,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Evolution, Forest & Molecular
|
|
Farah Shafawati Mohd Taib (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
|
Birds, Mammals, Rodents, Treeshrews, Squirrels,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Ecosystems & Taxonomy
|
|
Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Genetics & Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
|
|
Jeffrine Rovie Ryan Japning (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Monkeys, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas, Science & Technology
|
|
Kayal Vizi Karuppannan (Mrs.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Elephants, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas & Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
|
|
Midhat Nabil Ahmad Salimi (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Data Analysis, Ecosystems, Education, Environment, Genetics, History, Management, Medical, Molecular, Science, Technology, Water, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Living Modified Organism (LMO), Synthetic Biology, Protected Areas, Marine & Coastal & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Mohammad Shahfiz Azman (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
|
Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Awareness, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Environment, Forest, Landscape, Law and Policy, Management, Protected Areas, Science, Systematics, Invasive Alien Species, Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC), National Policy on Biological Diversity, Policy, Research and Development (R&D) & Zoonotic
|
|
Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah (Prof. Dato' Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Evolution, Genetics & Protected Areas
|
|
Nasharuddin Bin Othman (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Conservation, Management & Protected Areas
|
|
Rahimatsah Amat (Dr.)
Sabah Environmental Trust (SET)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Environment, Management & Protected Areas
|
|
Rahmat Topani (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Conservation, Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Rosli Hashim (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Birds (Ecology), Mammals (Ecology), Spiders, Insects,
Biodiversity & Protected Areas
|
|
Rosli Ramli (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Mammals (Ecology), Birds,
Biodiversity, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Saifullah A. Jaaman @ Sharman (Assoc. Prof.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Tan Cheng Cheng (Ms.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Protected Areas, Biodiversity & Conservation
|
|
Tan Poai Ean (Ms.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Bats, Mammals, Rodents,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems & Management
|
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;
References
Article
- Understanding and solving the South-East Asian snaring crisis. The Ecological Citizen 4 (2), 129-141 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Azman, N.M., Abdul Latip, N.S., Shahrul Anuar, M.S., Mohd Abdul Muin, M.A., Shafie, N.J. & Khairuddin, N.L. (2011). Avian Diversity and Feeding Guilds in a Secondary Forest, an Oil Palm Plantation and a Paddy Field in Riparian Areas of the Kerian River Basin, Perak, Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research (TSLR) 22 (2), 45–64
- Aihara, Y., Hosaka, T., Yasuda, M., Hashim, M. & Numata, S. (2016). Mammalian Wildlife Tourism in South-East Asian Tropical Rainforests: The Case of Endau Rompin National Park, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 28 (2), 167-181
- Magintan, D., Ilias, R., Ismail, A., Adrian, J., Rasdi, I. & Mohd. Sanusi, M. (2015). A Preliminary Observation of Mammals and Other Species Visiting Artificial Salt Licks in Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 30, 59-74
- Magintan, D., Mohamad Rufino, B.M., Cosmas, N. & Dennis, T.C.Y. (2009). Some evidences of Sumatran Rhinoceros presence in Temengor Forest Reserve, Perak. Journal of Wildlife and Parks 26, 5-10
- Moseley, M., Wyn, L.T. & Tshen, L.T. (2012). Fauna Reported from Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia: Annotated Checklist and Bibliography. 39 (2), 77-92
- Nakashima, Y., Lagan, P. & Kitayama, K. (2007). A Study of Fruit–Frugivore Interactions in Two Species of Durian (Durio, Bombacaceae) in Sabah, Malaysia. 40 (2), 255–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00335.x
- Scotson, L., Fredriksson, G., Ngoprasert, D., Wong, W-M & Fieberg, J. (2017). Projecting rangewide sun bear population trends using tree cover and camera-trap bycatch data. . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185336 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Shahfiz, M.A., Shahrul Anuar, M.S., Kaviarasu, M., Fauzi, M.Z. & Rizal, M.R. (2013). Preliminary Checklist of Mammals at Sungai Enam in Temengor Forest Reserve, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. , 197-214
- Suis, M.A.F., Miun, J., Tingkoi, L. & Nilus, R. (2019). Inventory of terrestrial mammals and birds in Sungai Pin Conservation Area, Kinabatangan. Sepilok Bulletin. 28, 49-68. http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/docs/frc/Sepilok%20Bulletin%20Vol%2028%20(2019).pdf
Book
- A visitor's guidebook to Endau-Rompin (Johor) National Park, 2019. Johor National Parks Corporation and UNDP Malaysia. pp. 108.
- ASEAN Biodiversity Outlook 2, 2017. ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Philippines. pp. 220. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Biodiversity expedition Sungai Bebar, Pekan, Pahang summary findings, 2005. Peat Swamp Forest Project, UNDP/GEF Funded. pp. 169.
- Biodiversity in Plantation Landscapes, 2012. Wild Asia and the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. pp. 130. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Malaysian Naturalist, Volume 74, Issue/No. 4, 2021. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. pp. 311.
- National Tiger Action Plan for Malaysia, 2008. Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- PERHILITAN. (2017). Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia Version 2.0. Kuala Lumpur: Department of Widlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia.
- Permata Negeri Kedah: Hutan Ulu Muda, 2021. WWF-Malaysia. pp. 100.
- Red List of Mammals for Peninsular Malaysia: Red List Mamalia Semenanjung Malaysia, 2010. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 150. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- The Network of Protected Forests in Telupid, Sabah: Biodiversity & Conservation in the Heart of Borneo, 2014. Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah, Malaysia. pp. 155.
- Tourism and Visitor Management in Protected Areas: Guidelines for sustainability, 2018. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. pp. 128. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Abd. Latif, M., Mohti, A., Samsudin, M. & Parlan, I. (2020). Malaysia's Tropical Rainforests - Splendour To Behold. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 212.
- Abdul Rahman, A.R., Mohd Nasir, A.H., Mohamed Zin, Y., Richard, A.M. & Latiff, A. (2013). Banjaran Bintang Gunung Inas, Kedah: Pengurusan Hutan, Persekitaran Fizikal dan Kepelbagaian Biologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 245.
- Beastall, C.A. & Chng, S.C.L. (2021). Identification of Commonly Traded Wildlife in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Chua, L.S.L. (2021). Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring Protocol in the Central Forest Spine Landscape. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 120. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Hasdi, Hassan (2008). Rezab Hidupan Liar Sungai Dusun: Inspirasi Rimba Alam. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN), Malaysia. pp. 74.
- Hazebroek, H.P., Adlin, T.Z. & Sinun, W. (2011). Danum Valley: The Rain Forest. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Malaysia. pp. 615.
- Hutton, W. (2013). Sepilok Forest: Preserving Sabah's Natural Heritage. Sabah Forestry Department. pp. 113.
- Khan, M.M. (1992). Mamalia Semenanjung Malaysia. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN), Malaysia. pp. 182.
- Meijaard, E., Garcia-Ulloa, J, Sheil, D, Wich, S., Carlson, K.M, Juffe-Bignoli, D & Brooks, T.M (2018). Oil palm and biodiversity : a situation analysis by the IUCN Oil Palm Task Force. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. pp. 116. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Mohammad, M.S., Zainon, K & Zulfadhlan, A.K. (2013). Proceedings of The 2nd Temengor Scientific Expedition 2012. Pulau Banding Foundation, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. pp. 388.
- Mohd Hizamri, M.Y, Grippin, A & Norhayati, A. (2021). Taman Negeri Rompin Pahang: A World of Wonders and Enchantments. Pahang State Forestry Department.
- Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin, N. H., Suhaila, A.H. & Zarul, H.H. (2019). Royal Belum-Temengor Rainforest : The Hidden Treasure of Perak. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kementerian Air, Tanah dan Sumber Asli. pp. 300.
- Nik Mohd Maseri, Nik Mohamad (2009). Gunung Stong State Forest Park: A Guidebook. WWF-Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 24.
- Payne, J. & Francis, C.M. (1985). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society, Malaysia. pp. 326.
- Payne, J. (2022). The Hairy Rhinoceros: History, ecology, and some lessons for management of the last Asian megafauna. Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd. pp. 197.
- Phillipps, Q. & Phillipps, K. (2016). Phillipps’ Guide to the Mammals of Borneo and their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. pp. 400.
- Sasekumar, A. & Chong, V.C. (2012). Mangrove and Coastal Environment of Selangor, Malaysia. Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. pp. 290.
- Shaharuddin, M.I., Dahalan, H.T., Abdullah Sani, Shafie, Jalil, M.S., Faridah-Hanum, I. & Latiff, A. (2005). Taman Negeri Gunung Stong, Kelantan: Pengurusan, Persekitaran Fizikal, Biologi dan Sosio-ekonomi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 442.
- T. Marina, T. Ibrahim & Shamsul, K. (2009). Kepelbagaian Biologi Flora, Fauna dan Nilai Ekonomi Hutan Simpan Tranum, Pahang. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 140.
- Tan, P.E., Norazlinda, A.R., Nosrat, R. & Saaban, S. (2015). Field Guides - Identification Key for Non-Volant Terrestrial Mammals of Peninsular Malaysia. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia. pp. 56.
- Wan Shaharuddin, W.N, Ibrahim, S.N, Sivananthan, T.E., Gopalakrishnan, L & Chik Wan Ab Rahman, C.K.M.Z (2020). Corridors of Life: Connecting Wildlife within the Central Forest Spine (CFS). Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.
Chapter in book
- Davison, G.W.H. & Akbar, Z. (2007). The Status of Mammalian Biodiversity in Malaysia. In Chua, L.S.L., Kirton, L.G. & Saw, L.G. (Eds.), Status of Biological Diversity in Malaysia and Threat Assessment of Plant Species in Malaysia: Proceedings of the Seminar and Workshop, 28-30 June 2005. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). pp. 3-27.
- Lim, B.L., Ratnam, L. & Hussien, N. A. (2003). Small Mammals Diversity in Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia. In Okuda, T., Manokaran, N. & Ashton, P.S. (Eds.), Pasoh: Ecology of a Lowland Rain Forest in Southeast Asia. Springer Tokyo. pp. 403-411.
Journal
- Malayan Nature Journal, Volume 73, Issue 3, p. 419, 2021
Legislation
- Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010 (2010) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Akta Perdagangan Antarabangsa Mengenai Species Terancam 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Wildlife Conservation Act (2010). Laws of Malaysia Act 716 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Magazine/Bulletin
- Bio-Bulletin, Vol. 2 (December 2015). School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Identification of Commonly Traded Wildlife with a focus on the Golden Triangle (Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand) (2020). TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Malaysian Naturalist, Vol. 72 (2), 2/2019. Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
- Malaysian Naturalist, Vol. 72 (3), 3/2019. Malaysian Nature Society, Malaysia.
- TRAFFIC Bulletin, Vol. 30 (2), 10/2018. TRAFFIC, UK — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Conservation Malaysia (19), 2014. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Conservation Malaysia (4), 2007. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- ASEAN Biodiversity Magazine, Vol. 13 (1), 1/2014. ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Pamphlet/Brochure
- Identification Sheets for Wildlife Species Traded in Southeast Asia (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Visitor Guide Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Report
- CPSG Annual Report 2017 - Changing the Future for Wildlife. Conservation Planning Specialist Group (IUCN/SSC/CPSG), United States of America. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Sixth National Report of Malaysia to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resource, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Publications
Acknowledgements :- Mr. Ahmad Amir Firdaus Bin Mad Apandi, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ainul Aqilah Binti Mohd Nasir, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Ms. Fatin Qurratul 'ain Binti Saberam, Mr. Mohd Zulfadli Bin Mohd Arshad, Dr. Muhammad Farhan Bin Abd Wahab, Ms. Noor Amira Aini Binti Noor Anwar, Mrs. Noor Ashikin Binti Hj. Mohamad, Ms. Norayuni Binti Ramlee, Mrs. Nur Hazwanie Binti Abd Halim, Ms. Nur Razan Faiqah Binti Zahili, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nurul Aimi Amirah Binti Mohd Zaki, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin
Photo credit :- Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid, Kaviarasu Munian, Norhayati Binti Ahmad & Saw Leng Guan
Species Citation :- Helarctos malayanus. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/20023. [Retrieved 08 February 2023].
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