The Malayan sun bear is the smallest bear in the world and is active only at night. It spends its days sleeping in tree nests and basking in the sun.
Bear study seeks clues to staying strong
Bear study seeks clues to staying strong Scientists are studying hibernating black bears
for clues on treatments for human muscle disorder. Unlike humans,
hibernating bears lose little muscle tone and strength during their
long periods of inactivity. After three months of hibernation,
bears have 75 per cent of their original muscle strength, but
humans would have only 10 per cent after the same amount of time.
The bears do not lose any muscle cells, and may be diverting
protein to muscles from other parts of the body and stimulating
muscles by shivering. FEBRUARY 22, 2001
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