Helarctos malayanus, commonly known as the sun bear or Malayan sun bear, is the smallest of all bear species. Its name comes from the distinct pale, crescent-shaped patch on its chest that resembles a rising sun. This bear is native to Southeast Asia, where it inhabits tropical forests across countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Despite its small size, the sun bear is an agile climber and plays an important role in its ecosystem by dispersing seeds and controlling insect populations.
• Oso malayo, Oso de Sol
• Sun bear
Scientific classification:
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Ursidae
Subfamily:Ursinae
Genus:Helarctos
Species:H. malayanus
Ueno Zoological Gardens, Taito, Tokyo, Japan
Tragically, the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo recently reported the death of its last sun bear, a female named Kyoko (キョウコ). At approximately 30 years old, Kyoko passed away in July 2025 due to gallbladder cancer. With her loss, the zoo now has no Malayan sun bears remaining in its care, marking the closure of this long-standing exhibit. Her passing is deeply felt not only by the zoo community but also by conservationists who recognize how rare and precious such individuals are in captivity. Sun bears are already under pressure from habitat loss and poaching in the wild, and every animal in human care plays a vital role in education, research, and the preservation of their species. — Source / PDF ☀️
Camera: Canon EOS 77D / 9000D
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 232.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/320
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 5000
Photo Taken: April 12, 2024
High resolution
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