The smallest bear, from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, named for the orange to cream patch on its chest. It is the most tree-dwelling of all bears, sleeping and sunbathing 2 to 7 m up, and is mainly active during the day.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?Can be
It doesn't usually attack people unless provoked, injured or with cubs.
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAsia
HabitatRainforest
ColoursBlack, Gold
SizeMedium
Length100–140 cm (head and body)
HeightNearly 70 cm at the shoulder
Weight25–65 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives alone
Lives for25 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
- What it eats
- Ants, bees, beetles, honey and termites, plus seeds and many kinds of fruit.
- Conservation
- Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
The smallest bear, using its exceptionally long tongue to raid honeycomb.
It is also called the honey bear, and tears open hollow trees to reach wild bees and their honey.
Its population is thought to have fallen by 35% since the 1990s.
Often confused with
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