There are 8 species of bears and numerous subspecies that have been recognized.
Bears vary in size from the 66 pound sun bear to the 1,500 pound brown bear.
Perhaps the most widely publicized symbol of endangered species, the giant panda was limited to only ~1,600 individuals inhabiting the wild bamboo forests in central China and a captive population of about 180 individuals in 2006.
Population of Threatened Bears as of 2007
Polar Bear – 22,000 to 27,000
Spectacled Bear – 18,250
Sloth bear – 10,000 to 20,000+
Asiatic Black Bear – 15,000 to 20,000
Giant Panda – 1,600
Sun Bear – Unknown (it is suspected that the global population of Sun Bears has declined by > 30% over the past 30 years)
