Sun bears are highly intelligent, arboreal Southeast Asian bears with complex foraging behaviors. Meeting their enrichment needs is critical for zoo welfare.
Sun bear welfare in zoos requires particular attention to enrichment complexity because these animals are exceptionally motivated foragers with strong exploratory drive. Lack of appropriate foraging stimulation leads to repetitive stereotypic behaviors and inactivity. Enrichment should include honey-filled logs requiring manipulation, termite mounds, buried food, and varied substrates that promote natural digging and sniffing behaviors. Arboreal access through climbing structures reflects their wild habitat use and promotes physical conditioning. Sun bears rescued from the bile trade — where they are kept in crush cages for bile extraction — often show severe physical and psychological trauma requiring specialized rehabilitation. These animals represent the most extreme welfare failures in the bear farming industry and their recovery demonstrates the resilience of these animals with appropriate care.