Bears of the World There are 8 bear species in the world, click a photograph below to learn more about that species. Sun Bear Sloth Bear Polar Bear American Black Bear Brown Bear Asiatic Black Bear Giant Panda Andean Bear To view distribution maps of each species, click on the links below: Ailuropoda melanoleuca – Giant Panda Helarctos malayanus – Sun Bear Melursus ursinus – Sloth bear Tremarctos ornatus – Andean bear Ursus americanus – American black bear Ursus arctos – brown bear Ursus maritimus – polar bear Ursus thibetanus – Asiatic black bear