Sun bears are the smallest bear species and among the least understood. Their welfare in captivity requires meeting their high activity needs and solitary nature.
Sun bear welfare in captivity is shaped by their high activity levels, solitary social preference, and need for complex arboreal environments. Sun bears spend considerable time climbing trees in the wild — captive facilities without adequate climbing structures provide fundamentally impoverished environments for a species adapted for canopy life. The bear bile farming industry subjects sun bears to permanent small cage confinement and repeated bile extraction — among the most severe institutionalized welfare violations globally. Sanctuaries that provide large forested areas with trees to climb, soil to dig, and diverse food-finding opportunities enable dramatic behavioral recovery in rescued individuals. The contrast between bear farm conditions and good sanctuary conditions illustrates the potential welfare benefit of proper care.