Guwahati: A heartfelt appeal to save one of Assam’s most elusive and endangered wild species ,the sun bear was made on Friday by wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran.
Addressing the media, Moran urged Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary to act urgently and protect the rare animal from the threat of illegal coal mining and deforestation in the Digboi Forest Division of Upper Assam.
“In 2023, a lone sun bear was seen trying to hide itself on the branch of a tree in the Digboi forests. It was visibly terrified,” Moran recalled. The sighting was rare and emotional , a frightened creature trying to survive amid a fast-vanishing habitat.
According to Moran, illegal coal mining activities in and around Margherita subdivision have resulted in massive deforestation and destruction of forest cover. This, he says, has displaced wildlife such as the sun bear, which depends entirely on undisturbed forest habitats. He explained that the problem worsens after the monsoon season, when coal mafias resume their operations between October and November.
“The Dihing Patkai National Park, often called the ‘Amazon of the East’, will lose its fragrance if these mining activities are not stopped,” Moran warned. He directly appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, asking him to take strict and timely action before it’s too late.
The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear species in the world, standing just 4 to 5 feet tall and weighing 25 to 65 kilograms. Its most distinctive feature is a U-shaped golden patch on its chest, which looks like the rising sun hence the name. The sun bear is also called the “honey bear”, as it loves honey and uses its long tongue to extract it from beehives.
Sun bears are mostly nocturnal and solitary. They spend much of their time climbing trees, where they forage for fruits, insects, termites, honey, small birds, and occasionally small mammals. Their foraging helps maintain the health of the forest by spreading seeds and controlling pests ; playing a crucial role in the forest ecosystem.
In India, sun bears are primarily found in the Northeastern states, especially in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Assam’s Dihing Patkai National Park and Namdapha National Park are among the last strongholds of this species. Globally, they inhabit the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Indonesia.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the sun bear as “Vulnerable”, with a fast-declining population. The primary threats include deforestation, illegal logging, poaching, and habitat fragmentation.
Sun bears are highly sensitive to environmental change. Being tropical forest animals, they depend on a consistent climate, dense canopy cover, and quiet surroundings to thrive.
Climate change affects their food sources and habitat patterns, while noise pollution from mining and deforestation disturbs their natural behavior. Being shy and reclusive, they cannot easily adapt to loud human activity or sudden landscape changes. Habitat disturbance increases stress levels, reduces food availability, and even impacts reproduction.
The conservationist’s appeal has sparked support among locals and environmental groups. “The sun bear has no voice, no protest march. It only retreats into the shadows,” said Rita Bordoloi, an environmental science teacher in Tinsukia. “We owe it to our forests and future generations to protect this rare animal.”She added.
Moran’s plea comes not only as a warning but as a wake-up call for Assam’s government and citizens. “If we delay any longer, the sun bear may disappear from Assam’s forests forever,” he said. “And with it, a part of our forest soul will be lost.”