Where to see the Sun Bear
Helarctos malayanus · mammal · Ursidae
Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) is recorded in 13 protected areas and wildlife sites across 3 countries in our database. The places with the strongest evidence are Hutan Simpan Kabili-Sepilok (Malaysia), Krau Wildlife Reserve (Malaysia) and Endau-Rompin National Park (Malaysia).
Where is the best place to see the Sun Bear?
Based on GBIF records and our guides, the best-documented places to see the Sun Bear are Hutan Simpan Kabili-Sepilok (Malaysia), Krau Wildlife Reserve (Malaysia) and Endau-Rompin National Park (Malaysia). Most sites are in Malaysia (6), Cambodia (4) and Indonesia (3). It appears in 7 trip reports in our library.
Top 13 places for the Sun Bear
| # | Place | Country | GBIF records | Years | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hutan Simpan Kabili-Sepilok | Malaysia | – | – | Reported by our guide |
| 2 | Krau Wildlife Reserve | Malaysia | – | – | Reported by our guide |
| 3 | Endau-Rompin National Park | Malaysia | – | – | Reported by our guide |
| 4 | Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park | Indonesia | 13 | 2014 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 5 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | Indonesia | 8 | 2006–2015 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 6 | Cardamom Mountain National Park Kandal | Cambodia | 6 | 2016 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 7 | Phnom Kravang Kang Tbong National Park | Cambodia | 5 | 2002–2016 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 8 | Gunung Leuser National Park | Indonesia | 4 | 2014 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 9 | Chhaeb-Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary | Cambodia | 4 | – | Recorded on GBIF |
| 10 | Danum Valley Conservation Area | Malaysia | 4 | 2013–2019 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 11 | Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary | Cambodia | 4 | 2016 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 12 | Taman Negara Pahang | Malaysia | 3 | 1999 | Recorded on GBIF |
| 13 | National Park Pahang | Malaysia | 3 | 1999 | Recorded on GBIF |
By country
Malaysia: 6, Cambodia: 4 and Indonesia: 3.
Seen on trips
The Sun Bear is recorded in these trip reports:
- Way Kambas and Sumatran Striped Rabbit Trip Report 2025 —
- Borneo's Rare Mammals Tour 2024 Trip Report — Royle Safaris
- Sabah, Borneo, July 2022 Trip Report — Jon Hall (mammalwatching.com)
- Sumatran Rhino Expedition Trip Report, August 2019: Royle Safaris — Royle Safaris
- Way Kambas and Gunung Leuser Mammal Watching Trip Report 2015 — Jon Hall (mammalwatching.com)
- Taman Negara Malayan Tapir Trip Report 2010 —
- Peninsular Malaysia Mammal Watching Trip Report 2004 — Jon Hall (mammalwatching.com)
Tours that have recorded it
- Best of Sumatra Wildlife Tour — Royle Safaris
In our guides
Read the full species account in our Borneo guide, Sumatra guide, Malaysia guide, India guide.
Take it with you
Build a free printable field guide or e-book for any of these places, with photos and a checklist.
Make a field guide for Hutan Simpan Kabili-SepilokPhoto: Mike Gordon — wildlifeofeverywhere.com, .
GBIF downloads: Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia.
Data last updated 2026-11-05. Species–place links come from GBIF occurrence downloads (GBIF.org) matched to protected-area boundaries from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and other open boundary sources, plus places listed by our own guides. Record counts are what has been reported to GBIF, not population sizes. Reptiles and amphibians are never shown at park level. How this database works · Data sources and limits.