Sun Bear
Sun BearSun BearSun BearSun Bear

Sun Bear

Helarctos malayanus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Khao Sok National Park
2 Verified records at Khao Sok National Park
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear species in the family Ursidae found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is the only species in the genus Helarctos and the smallest bear species, standing nearly 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder and weighing 25–65 kg (55–143 lb). It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small, rounded ears and a short snout. The fur is generally short and jet black, but can vary from grey to red. The sun bear gets its name from its characteristic orange to cream-coloured chest patch. The sun bear's unique morphology with inward-turned front feet, flattened chest, powerful forelimbs with large claws suggests adaptations for climbing, and it is an excellent climber and the most arboreal of all bears. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Khao Sok National Park

Common Palm Civet
LC

Common Palm Civet

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

10–20% · With luck
Banded Linsang
LC

Banded Linsang

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Prionodon linsang

Insufficient data
Small-toothed Palm Civet
LC

Small-toothed Palm Civet

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Arctogalidia trivirgata

Insufficient data
Smooth Coated Otter
VU

Smooth Coated Otter

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lutrogale perspicillata

Insufficient data
Masked Palm Civet
LC Endemic

Masked Palm Civet

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paguma larvata

Insufficient data
Crab-eating Mongoose

Crab-eating Mongoose

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Herpestes urva

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Sun Bear at Khao Sok National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
40–50%
2 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
3 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
Insufficient data
4 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
5 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Insufficient data
6 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
Insufficient data
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