Like all wise creatures, moon bears love a long nap – and they’ve got plenty of good ideas on where is best to catch some zzzs.

On a single walk around our Chengdu sanctuary, we found moon bears crashed out in just about every place and position you can imagine.

They arrived in bear bile cages – now free, they deserve all the snoozes they can manage.

Here are every moon bear’s 11 favourite places to conk out.

1/ On the grass

The traditional place at our sanctuaries for moon bears to crash. This impossibly relaxed fella makes the grass look comfier than a thousand cotton duvets.

2/ On cobblestones

Not the most obvious choice, but this moon bear seems determined to make this cobblestone path into a bed. As you’d expect from these incredible bears – he succeeded.

3/ On a bamboo swing

Not something moon bears often encounter in the wild, but a vital component of any rescue centre. Bamboo swings are incredibly popular with moon bears, being the site of countless wrestles, cuddles and snoozes.

4/ On a firehose hammock

This has to be the sleeping spot we can all relate to. Like bamboo swings, these hammocks are big enough for two bears and are the ultimate place for a sultan of slumber to dream away a summer’s day.

5/ On concrete

The ground level of this concrete duplex is perfectly shady and resembles cool caves that bears often make homes of in the wild.

6/ In a nest

Bears won’t always be satisfied with plain old grass or a cobblestone path when slumber calls. Moon bears have a natural impulse to build nests and will do so in all kinds of places – including up trees. But the more common nest is a shallow cut hole in the ground filled with some leaves or straw for extra comfort.

7/ On a wooden platform

Wood stays cool even in the hottest sun, and if you get bored, you can always start destroying your bed.

This pose is what’s known by staff as a “bear splat” – as if the bear fell from a height face down – and then slept where he landed.

8/ On the rocks above a waterfall

Wow, just wow. This bear is showing all his class by choosing the ultimate place for a siesta. A view over the sanctuary, one foot dipped in the waterfall and sweet dreams about honey.

9/ In the shade

What do you do when you fancy 40 winks, but it’s bright out and you can’t find your sleep mask? Well if you’re a moon bear, then you make the most of your environment. This resourceful bear has found a naptime spot with a log perfectly covering his eyes.

10/ Up a tree

How high up?  Is that branch strong enough?  What if he falls off when he’s asleep?  What if he forgets, wakes up and takes a step and….

None of this seems to bother bears. Least of all Wan Cai here.  If there was an Olympics for rescued moon bears, with an event in tree sleeping, in China – all of which seems a bit of a leap – Wan Cai would be champ.

11/ Wherever – as long as its together

By now it should have become clear that moon bears can dance with the sandman just about anywhere. And like any good dance, moon bears know that this is one best done together. Wherever the bears take a nap, they like doing it together.

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