Sun bears are the smallest bear species and highly intelligent forest-dwellers. Meeting their physical and cognitive needs in captivity requires extensive enrichment and appropriate social management.
Sun bears in captivity require substantial cognitive and physical enrichment to prevent the stereotypic behaviours that commonly develop in impoverished environments. Their natural foraging behaviour is extraordinarily diverse and cognitively demanding, involving problem-solving to access honey, larvae, and fruits from various substrates. Captive enrichment that replicates this complexity through variable, novel foraging challenges is fundamental to their welfare. Social management requires careful assessment of individual compatibility, with some bears preferring solitary housing and others thriving with companions. The welfare of sun bears in zoos is most effectively supported by naturalistic enclosures with diverse vegetation, climbing structures, water features, and extensive foraging enrichment distributed throughout the space. The Sun Bear Conservation Centre provides a model for high-welfare sun bear management that other facilities can learn from.