The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is home to Hoho, a 34-year-old Malayan sun bear that has gained fame due to his iconic looks and lovable personality. Hoho has acted as an amazing animal ambassador, bringing awareness to the existence of his species & the problems they face in their native habitat of Malaysia, southern China, eastern India, and Indonesia.

Sun bears are currently listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their population is on the decline due to threats of habitat loss (a consequence from unsustainable sourcing of items like Palm Oil) and poaching. Asiatic bear species have faced threats from traditional medical practices, such as their gallbladders being harvested for a bile called ursodiol (Ursodeoxycholic acid). Used for various treatments for illnesses including liver disease, the bile has been able to be synthetically reproduced since the 1950s.

The Topeka Zoo is dedicated to educating its community on ways we can support sustainable sourcing of materials and the conservation of wildlife, including this incredible species of bear.