Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
Ailurops ursinus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderDiprotodontia (Kangaroos, Possums, Wombats, and Allies)
- FamilyPhalangeridae (Cuscuses and Brush-tailed Possums)
- GenusAilurops (Bear Cuscuses)
- SpeciesAilurops ursinus (Sulawesi Bear Cuscus)
About the Sulawesi Bear Cuscus
The Sulawesi bear cuscus, also known as the Sulawesi bear phalanger (Ailurops ursinus), is a species of arboreal marsupial in the family Phalangeridae that is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It lives in tropical moist lowland forest at elevations up to 600 m (2,000 ft) and is diurnal, folivorous and often found in pairs. A. ursinus is threatened by hunting, collection for the pet trade and deforestation.
One specimen was observed adopting a raised posture while making short, harsh chattering and clicking sounds. Bear cuscuses can feed on the young leaves of up to 31 different species of plants varying from trees, lianas, and mistletoes. Feeding only amounts to about 5% of their daily activity, compared to about 63% spent on resting.
The lack of legal protection for bear cuscuses, combined with habitat loss and poaching for consumption and illegal trade has caused the species to suffer a decline. Despite its status and declining population trend, the bear cuscus is not protected by Indonesian law or listed in the CITES appendices, even though it is commonly traded in Sulawesi and abroad. It was previously protected by Indonesian law... Wikipedia →
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tangkoko Nature Reserve | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Sulawesi Bear Cuscus in Tangkoko Nature Reserve?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Sulawesi Bear Cuscus sighting in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, based on 40 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Sulawesi Bear Cuscus in Tangkoko Nature Reserve?
August has the highest sighting rate for Sulawesi Bear Cuscus in Tangkoko Nature Reserve in our monthly data.