(Helarctos malayanus)
Location: Southeast Asia and Malaysia
Habitat: Forests

Sun bears get their name from the yellow crescent on their chest. They are the smallest of bears and spend much of their time in trees. Sun bears sleep and sun bathe during the day because they are primarily nocturnal. These bears have a true "sweet tooth," because they seek out honey while foraging for fruit, insects and small mammals.

Sun bears are highly endangered animals and are being driven to extinction by humans capturing cubs for pet trade, poaching for body parts for use in traditional Asian medicines, destroying habitat and fragmenting populations.

The sun bear's former range included most of China, Southeast Asia and Indonesia. They are now believed to be extinct in China and India.

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