Bridgett Robinson, age 10, of Lynn, Mass., for her question:
WHERE DO SUN BEARS COME FROM?
There are seven species of bears in the world: big brown bears, polar bears, American black bears, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears. The smallest of all of the bears is the sun bear.
Sun bears live wild in the forests of Borneo, Burma, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Thailand.
Sometimes called the Malayan bears, sun bears grow only to about three feet long. They weigh between 60 and 100 pounds, which isn't too much when you consider that the big brown bear can tip the scales at about 800 pounds. The big brown also grows to be eight feet long.
Most sun bears have black coats and grayish or orange noses. Some have light brown feet. Their fur is thick and their skin is loose, which makes them look bigger than they are.
The sun bear gets its name from the white or yellow marks on its chest. Many people of ancient times believed that the marks represented the rising sun.
Sun bears have large paws with no hair on the soles. The claws are more curved and have sharper points than those of other kinds of bears.
Sun bears usually hunt only at night. They spend the day sleeping and sunbathing in trees. They build nestlike beds in trees by bending or breaking branches.
Bears are meat eating animals, but they also eat many other kinds of food. They hunt mice, ground squirrels and other small animals in fields and forests. They may also wade into streams and catch fish with their front paws or strong jaws.
Favorite foods of bears include ants, birds' eggs and grubs. Their diet also may include acorns, berries, fruits, nuts and the leaves and roots of plants.
Bears are also fond of honey and will rip apart beehives or the nests of wild bees to get it. Their long, thick fur helps protect them from bee stings.
Most bear cubs are born during the mother's winter nap. A female usually has two cubs at a time, but the number may vary from one to four. At birth, the cub will only weigh between a half pound and one pound. Their eyes are closed and they have no fur.
Bear cubs stay with their mothers in the den for about two months. When they come out in spring, they are frisky and playful. They grow rapidly during their first summer.
Bear cubs stay with their mothers for one or two years. She teaches them to hunt for food.
Bears have short, strong legs and large feet. Each foot has five toes, and each toe ends in a long, heavy claw. The claws can always be seen because, unlike those of a cat, they have no covering. A bear uses these claws to dig up roots, ants and other food. It can also use the claws to tear its prey.
Bears are usually peaceful animals. They try to avoid fights and usually run from danger. They have few enemies except other bears and humans.