ORDER: Carnivora
                        FAMILY: Ursidae
                        GENUS: Helarctos
                        SPECIES: malayanus

1- DESCRIPTION:

Smallest of the bear family, length about 4.5 feet. Height at shoulder of 2 feet. Two-inch tail not easily seen. Weight 60-140 pounds. Coloration of sleek black fur with yellow crescent-shaped breast mark, grayish or orange shortened muzzle. Stocky build. Forearms incurved. Feet are large with strongly curved claws and naked soles. The ears are rounded and short. Small eyes.

2-GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:

Asia, Burma through Southeast Asia, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. May reach northern China and northeastern India. Dense tropical and subtropical forests at all elevations.

3-DIET: 

Omnivorous, using front paws for most of feeding activity. Trees are torn open in search of wild bee nests and for insects and their larvae. Also eat rodents, lizards, small birds, fruit, soft growing parts of palm trees and honey.

4- LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE: 

Possibly no regular breeding season. Bears often sighted in pairs, leading to notion that they may be monogamous. Sexual maturity reached between 3 and 5 years old. Litter of two 10-ounce cubs born on forest floor after a gestation of about three and a half months (unless there is delayed implantation). Life span of 25 years.