Bears of the World There are 8 bear species in the world, click a photograph below to learn more about that species. Sun Bear Giant Panda American Black Bear Sloth Bear Polar Bear Asiatic Black Bear Brown Bear 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