The Malay bear (or biruang) is a representative of the Bear family. The name comes from the Greek word hela, which means "sun." The reason for this "name" was a milky white or light beige spot on the chest of the beast, resembling a sunrise. The word arcto translates as "bear." Therefore, helarctos - is translated as "sun bear".
The local population calls him a bear dog for the small size of the animal.
The Malay bear also has another "name" - Biruang. This is a predator belonging to the genus Malay Bears.
External data
Today we will introduce you to the smallest representative of the whole family, whose “name” is Biruang (“sun bear”). The Malay bear has an elongated, somewhat awkward body, not exceeding 1.5 m in length, its height at the withers is not more than 70 cm, and its weight is about 65 kg. Males are larger than females by about 10-20%.
The Malay bear is a stocky animal with a short and wide muzzle. The ears are rounded, small in size. High limbs end with huge paws. They are very strong, the soles are completely bare. The nails are long, crooked, very sharp. A long and sticky tongue probably helps the beast to get honey and destroy termite mounds.
Of all species, the Malay bear has the largest fangs. The teeth of these animals easily tear meat, but since the Biruangs are not too carnivorous, they use their fangs as a weapon or as a tool for cracking wood to get the desired insects.
Wool and color
Malay bear has a beautiful fur coat. The fur is short, tarry black. Only the sides of the muzzle and the spot on the chest are painted in grayish-yellow or orange. There is an opinion that this spot is probably used to intimidate competitors. Sometimes the limbs are covered with light fur.
Habitat
Malay bear - an animal leading a solitary lifestyle. The only exceptions are mothers with cubs.
Biruang is spread over a wide territory - from the north of India, the south of China, in Thailand, on the Indochina peninsula to Indonesia.
Lifestyle
The Malay bear is a predator that lives in the subtropical and tropical forests and mountains of southeast Asia. Biruang perfectly climbs trees. He is a nocturnal animal, often sleeps in the afternoon on branches, in nests equipped by him. Here, on the trees, he feasts on fruits and leaves. Unlike its northern counterparts, it does not fall into hibernation. In captivity, this bear lives up to 24 years.
Despite its size, this small but strong Malay bear is a formidable predator. Even the tiger whenever possible tries to avoid meeting him.
Nutrition
Malay Bear (Biruang) is an omnivore. His diet consists of fruits, earthworms, bees (wild), termites and other insects, small mammals, birds, lizards.
Locals often complain that biruang damages palm trees - it eats their delicate processes, bananas. Cocoa plantations often suffer from raids by these animals.
The Malay bear has such strong jaws that it easily opens coconuts.
With strong paws and very long (up to 15 cm) claws, he easily destroys termite mounds and bee hives. Thus, he gets to honey, as well as to bee larvae.
Malay Bear is the rarest species in its family. A distinctive feature of this beast is a sticky and long tongue, which helps to easily get termites and insects from the bark of trees from nests.
Behavior features
Biruang is the most arboreal bear species. Thanks to powerful claws on four legs, they climb trees perfectly.
Malay bear is most active at night. These funny animals spend most of their life in tree branches. Here, at a height of 2-7 m, they build strong flooring (nests), on which they rest, sleep, and also take sun baths.
The life of these animals in vivo is still poorly understood. Experts say that this bear is quite aggressive, and even to confirm their words give examples of attacks on people with a very sad outcome.
On the mainland, this bear is not considered dangerous. Residents are sure that the attacks in question could only have been carried out by the dipper defending their offspring.
In fact, the Malay bears are shy and harmless creatures when they are not disturbed. Even females with cubs in every possible way avoid meeting a man.
In the homeland of the Biruang, they are often kept in captivity as a kind and funny beast, and children are allowed to play with it.
Breeding
The mating season of Malay bears lasts from two to seven days. At this time, the female and male behave very characteristic. They hug, playfully fight and jump.
Mating can occur at any time of the year, which indicates the absence of a specific breeding season. At the Berlin Zoo, the Biruanga bear gave birth twice a year - in April and August. But this is rather an exception than a rule.
On average, a pregnancy lasts 95 days, but there are frequent cases of delayed penetration of a fertilized egg. For example, at Fort Worth Zoo, three pregnancies of a single bear lasted 174, 228, and 240 days.
Progeny
Usually the female brings 1-2, much less often 3 cubs. As a rule, childbirth occurs in a secluded place, in a pre-prepared nest. Babies are born completely helpless, blind, naked and weighing no more than 300 grams.
From this moment on, life and physical development of the cubs are completely and completely dependent on the mother. Puppies need external stimulation of the excretory system. This is necessary for the normal cleansing of the intestines and bladder. This procedure is required for babies up to 2 months. In nature, the bear performs this work, carefully licking the cubs. In captivity, cubs are washed several times a day.
Kids are developing rapidly. By the time they are three months old, they independently run (fast), play and eat additional food with their mother. Mother's milk is present in their diet for up to four months.
The skin of newborn babies is first painted in black and gray. The mark on the chest and muzzle are off-white. The eyes of the babies open by the 25th day, but their full vision appears only by the 50th day. Around the same time, puppies begin to hear. The first milk fangs erupt at the 7th month, and a complete set of teeth is formed by 18 months.
The mother teaches the cubs what to eat, where this food can be found. Until about 2.5 years old, the cubs remain with their mother.
Benefits and harm to humans
Despite the fact that the number of Malay bears decreases annually, people continue to mercilessly destroy them. Many hunt them, pursuing sports interest, and also kill for sale.
Some parts of the body of a biruang are used in medicine. This practice began in China around 3500 BC. e., and the first mention of the use of the gallbladder of the biruang belongs to the VII century BC. e. Bear bile is successfully used in Chinese medicine. It is used to treat bacterial infections and inflammations. There is an opinion that the gall bladder of a bear (funds from it) can increase the potency of men.
Hats are sewn from Biruang fur on the island of Borneo . In some areas, bears play an extremely important role in the distribution of plant seeds.
Unfortunately, the Malay bear can cause irreparable damage to coconut and banana plantations.
Population
Today, the Malay bear (Biruang) is listed in the Red Book. Experts find it difficult to name the exact number of these animals living in natural conditions, but there is evidence of a significant annual decrease in their numbers.
A huge role in this process is played by the destruction of the habitat of animals. This forces the Biruangs to live in very small and often isolated territories.