Sun Bear Helarctos malayanus climbing a dead tree at the Sepilok Sun Bear Center, in Sabah. The presence of Sun Bears in Borneo forests can be recognized from their distinctive claw marks on the bark of trees. Sun Bears climb trees both to forage for fruit in the canopy and to build sleeping nests.
Sun Bears frequently climb fruiting fig trees to forage for fruit;
A mature tree of Ficus tengerenis growing at Kg. Enggang, Hutan Lipur Jeram Toi, Negeri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia, a popular waterfall and swimming hole in the forested main range, not far from Putrajaya in West Malaysia. All photos by Astrid Cruaud and Jean-Yves Rasplus taken on 6 May 2013.From the appearance of the trunk this individual Ficus tengerenis tree is probably quite old and may even have been present in the forest long before the road was constructed.The trunk of this Ficus tengerensis trunk is heavily marked with what appear to be old Sun Bear claw marks which have later been covered over with lichens.Ficus tengerensis fig fruits. Sun Bears are known to eat figs whenever they are available. Sun Bears eat fallen figs of all species and climb high into the canopy to feed on fruiting figs.
