The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) inhabits the lowland tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, where its secretive nature and difficult terrain hinder population monitoring. Despite recent research, their conservation status remains uncertain due to the lack of systematic population monitoring efforts. Sun bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and their populations are increasingly fragmented due to deforestation and poaching.

Traditional monitoring methods like camera trapping and noninvasive genetic sampling face limitations in tropical environments. However, the team at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) implemented innovative techniques such as invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) sampling using leeches and dung beetles in our previous research at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre demonstrating the successful recovery of sun bear DNA and identification of individuals via these invertebrates, rendering it useful for monitoring sun bear populations in wild. Encouraged by these results, researchers aim to expand this approach through a field trial at Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Malaysia, combining iDNA with other methods like camera trapping, and sign surveys to improve population estimates. Integrating spatial capture-recapture (SCR) with occupancy estimates will enhance the precision of population assessments, enabling more robust estimates to track sun bear population trajectories and conservation planning.

Bears in Mind funds this research project since 2025.