Meet the wildlife

Meet the Sun Bear & Moon Bear

Helarctos malayanus (Sun Bear) · Ursus thibetanus (Moon Bear)

Sun bears and moon bears are two of Asia's most distinctive bear species, each perfectly adapted to life in forest habitats.

Sun bears are the smallest bears in the world, known for their golden chest markings, powerful claws and incredible climbing ability. Moon bears, also known as Asiatic black bears, are instantly recognisable by the pale crescent-shaped marking across their chest.

Both species play an important role in healthy forest ecosystems, yet across parts of Asia they continue to face serious pressure from habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade and exploitation for bear bile.

Scientific name Helarctos malayanus (Sun Bear) · Ursus thibetanus (Moon Bear)

Conservation status Vulnerable Habitat loss, illegal wildlife trade and exploitation for bear bile.

Native range South & Southeast Asia

Habitat Tropical and subtropical forests

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About the Sun Bear & Moon Bear

Sun bears and moon bears are two of Asia's most distinctive bear species, each perfectly adapted to life in forest habitats.

Sun bears are the smallest bears in the world, known for their golden chest markings, powerful claws and incredible climbing ability. Moon bears, also known as Asiatic black bears, are instantly recognisable by the pale crescent-shaped marking across their chest.

Both species play an important role in healthy forest ecosystems, yet across parts of Asia they continue to face serious pressure from habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade and exploitation for bear bile.

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Why they need our help

For many bears across Asia, the greatest threats come directly from human exploitation.

Bear bile farming confines bears - particularly moon bears - in extremely small cages so bile can repeatedly be extracted from their gall bladder for use in traditional medicine. Many bears spend years in these conditions and arrive at rescue centres suffering from severe injuries, disease, malnutrition and long-term psychological trauma.

The illegal wildlife trade also removes bears from the wild, often when they are still cubs, while habitat loss places further pressure on already vulnerable populations.

Protecting wild bears therefore means tackling both the demand that drives exploitation and the loss of the forests they depend on.

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Helping protect the Sun Bear & Moon Bear

Learn more & support

Free the Bears

Free the Bears has been working to protect bears across Asia for more than three decades.

Founded in 1995, the organisation rescues bears from bile farms, illegal wildlife trafficking and other forms of exploitation, providing specialist veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and lifelong sanctuary care.

Today, Free the Bears operates the largest sun and moon bear sanctuary network in Southeast Asia, with sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Rescued bears are given spacious forested habitats where they can climb, forage, swim, nest and rediscover natural behaviours that may have been denied to them for years.

Alongside rescue and sanctuary care, Free the Bears works with communities, governments, law enforcement agencies and researchers to help combat wildlife trafficking, reduce exploitation and protect wild bear populations.

Visit their website