Sun bears are the smallest bear species, with highly specialized foraging skills. Enrichment in zoo settings must engage their problem-solving abilities and natural feeding behaviors.
Sun bears in zoos are prone to welfare problems when enrichment is inadequate. Their highly motivated foraging drive — evolved to locate scattered, hidden food sources across large territories — is easily frustrated in small, predictable enclosures. Stereotypic behaviors including repetitive pacing, head-weaving, and excessive licking of enclosure surfaces indicate poor welfare. High-quality enrichment must be varied, unpredictable, and cognitively challenging: honey-filled logs, scattered insects, ice blocks with embedded fruit, bark substrates for digging, and climbing structures that replicate arboreal foraging. Social management is delicate — sun bears can coexist in pairs with careful introductions, but forced proximity causes stress. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre demonstrates excellent welfare-focused sun bear care.