THE POLITICS OF EXTINCTION
Executive Summary   Introduction   A Future Without Forests?   Summary   Indonesia's Forest Cover   Real Value of the Forests   Indonesia's Biodiversity   Sumatran Rhinoceros   Sumatran Tiger   Clouded Leopard   Primates   Proboscis Monkey   Sun Bear Protected Forest Areas   Kutai National Park   The Orangutan Crisis   The Timber Barons   Palm Oil	A Future Without Forests? - Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) Few Indonesian surveys of sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) population status and threats have been undertaken and accurate information is lacking. Experts assume that sun bears occur wherever there is sufficient forest cover in both Sumatra and Kalimantan.56 Sun bears are omnivores eating fruit, grubs, birds' eggs, fledglings and honey. They are expert climbers and will climb to great heights to reach the nests of bees and termites.57 Given both declines in forest habitat and direct captures and kills, the species is considered to be threatened. The trade in bear claws, canine teeth and gall bladders continues and EIA investigations in 1995 found that they are regularly hunted or fall prey to snares. Their canine teeth and claws were found for sale in many gold shops in Medan, Sumatra. Other shops sold gall bladders for use in medicine.58 Although the international trade in sun bear parts is banned (the species is listed on Appendix I of CITES), it is thought that some threat remains from the demand for gall bladders from other Asian countries. The sun bear is thought to be particularly sensitive to logging operations.59 EIA researchers in Central Kalimantan learnt of a cub which had been captured by villagers after its mother had been killed by logging workers.60
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