Sun bear predation on an oriental pied hornbill nest

Abstract: Sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) are opportunistic omnivores that feed predominantly on fruits and invertebrates, but predatory behavior by sun bears is rarely recorded. Although commonly described as a forest-dependent species, the sun bear is a generalist and seems to have some potential to adapt to changing environments. Here we report the first record of a sun bear predating on oriental pied hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) in their nest in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, during spring of 2019. It is a human-disturbed landscape surrounded by oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations, with the remaining degraded forest providing a wildlife corridor for Borneo's wildlife. The sun bears photographed by camera traps along the wildlife corridor, including the predatory bear, appeared to be in good condition, therefore evidently finding sufficient food resources. Their opportunistic feeding behavior, not necessarily food shortage, may allow them to take vulnerable prey, such as this low-nesting hornbill.