Sun bears — the world's smallest bear species — are increasingly found in zoological collections, but their specific welfare needs, including complex ranging behaviour and sensitivity to social conditions, create significant management challenges.
Sun bears in captivity face welfare challenges that stem from the fundamental mismatch between their wild ecology and conventional zoo housing. A species adapted for ranging across vast tropical forest landscapes, climbing complex arboreal structures, and extracting food from dozens of different substrate types cannot have its full welfare needs met in standard bear exhibits regardless of enrichment provision. The best welfare outcomes for captive sun bears are achieved in large, naturalistic forest enclosures with complex substrate, climbing structures, and foraging opportunities embedded throughout — approximating the semi-wild conditions seen at exemplary rescue centres. Institutions that cannot provide these conditions should consider whether holding sun bears serves welfare goals or primarily exhibition goals.