A Close Look at Four Unique Bears

by Chelsea Zheng, age 9

Not all bears are big. And some bears don’t even really look like bears.

The spectacled, asiatic, sun, and sloth bear are the four smallest bear species. Although they all share similar sizes, they are quite unique from one another. Don’t let their size and appearance fool you, they can still be vicious creatures.

The spectacled bear species love their fruits. In the forests of South America, these bears build a platform from branches high in fruit-laden trees as they settle in for days of feasting. When they finish eating all the fruit within the tree they get up and inhabit a new area with plenty of food.

The sloth bear loves termites, the sounds it makes while eating its meal can be heard from up to two hundred yards away! They put their lips around a termite hole, close their nostrils on demand, and start to suction the insects like a vacuum.

The asiatic bears are the troublemakers out of the four small species. These rascals steal livestock from people for food, and can even harm crops. The asiatic bear also does not get along with humans very well since they have a bad temper.

The sun bear is the tiniest out of the four bears. They are usually four and a half feet tall and weigh about one hundred pounds. It's known to be the most dangerous animal in its territory, Southeast Asia. Captive sun bears are intelligent; theey can use their curved claws like keys and can open about almost anything.

These four small bears might not be well known, but they have similarities and differences that make them all interesting.

[Sources: Book of Wild Creatures ; nationalgeographic.com ]