Sun bears are the smallest of the world's eight bear species, highly intelligent and arboreal, and among the most challenging to provide good welfare for in captivity due to their specialised ecology and social flexibility.
Sun bears in captivity require complex, vertically diverse environments that allow climbing, denning, foraging, and exploration. Standard horizontal zoo enclosures without climbing structures and foraging opportunities are inadequate for their welfare. Their highly motivated food-seeking behaviour — especially for honey and insects — means that without puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, and varied food delivery, they rapidly develop stereotypic pacing or repetitive behaviours. The illegal pet trade captures many sun bear cubs, whose mothers are killed; these individuals may have severe behavioural abnormalities from early deprivation that persist throughout their lives in sanctuary or zoo settings, requiring specialised rehabilitation approaches.