The smallest of the eight-bear species found in the world, sun bears are most easily recognised by their  unique yellow, sun-like marking on their chest, which can take on a variety of shapes. Also known as the 'honey bear’, these lovely creatures have characteristically long tongues to reach honey from beehives and extract insects from small spaces. But, their numbers are declining mainly due to forest loss and poaching, and sun bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Today, on a new mini-segment called The ABC's of Biodiversity, a series explaining why biodiversity loss is OUR loss, we want to focus on these tiny bears with big personalities and a big impact on our environment. Joining us to do that is Dr Wong Siew Te, a Wildlife biologist and the CEO and Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).

Image credit: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs

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Tags:  Helarctos malayanus,  Malayan Sun Bear,  Wong Siew Te,  illegal pet trade,  #ABCsOfBiodiversity,  the bigger picture,  earth matters,  sun bear,  bornean sun bear conservation centre,  bsbcc,  deforestation,  illegal wildlife trade,  habitat loss,  sabah wildlife