Sun bears are the world's smallest bears and among the least studied. Meeting their climbing, foraging and cognitive needs in captivity requires specialised knowledge.
Sun bear welfare in captivity requires enclosures designed around their arboreal and foraging biology. Flat, barren spaces prevent natural climbing and foraging behaviour — the primary welfare deficits in inadequate facilities. Enrichment that engages their specialist tongue and foraging skills — honey in log cavities, insects in substrate, fruit hidden in climbing structures — provides both cognitive and physical stimulation. Sun bears rescued from bile farming require extended rehabilitation addressing the trauma of years in bare cages, including gradual socialisation and positive reinforcement training to build trust. Welfare assessment must include individual history, as bile farming survivors have substantially different baseline welfare needs.