Despite conservation efforts by Chinese authorities, the giant panda with a wild population of less than 2,500 mature animals, remains the only species considered as having "Endangered" status, implying "a very high risk of extinction in the wild."
This year, sun bears, the world's smallest species of bear, were given a "Vulnerable" status, which means a high risk of extinction.
"We estimate that sun bears have declined by at least 30% over the past 30 years (three bear generations), and continue to decline at this rate," said Rob Steinmetz, co-chair of the IUCN Bear Specialist Group's sun bear expert team, adding that still little is known about the biology and ecology of this species.
The two major threats to sun bears are the loss of their habitat and poaching. The animals are killed mainly for their gall bladders, used in Chinese medicine, and their paws - a delicacy in many Asian countries. In addition, they are often killed out of fear they will attack people or destroy crops.
The list of vulnerable species also includes Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, Andean bears (also called spectacled bears) and polar bears.
Brown bears, widespread in Russia, Canada and Alaska are given the "Least Concern" status, though several small populations - in Southern Europe and Asia - are protected under local laws.
American black bears populations are secure throughout Northern and Central America. The population of 900,000 animals exceeds more than twice the number of all the other species of bears combined.
"An enormous amount of effort and funding for conservation and management continue to be directed at bears in North America where their status is relatively favorable," said Bruce McLellan, co-chair of the IUCN Bear Specialist Group. "It is unfortunate that so little is directed at bears in Asia and South America where the need is extreme."
