Sun bears in captivity have highly specific behavioral needs including extensive foraging, climbing, and denning opportunities that many facilities fail to adequately provide.
Sun bear welfare in captivity is challenged by the mismatch between their complex wild foraging ecology and standard zoo bear exhibits. Foraging enrichment must simulate the cognitive and physical challenge of extracting food from bark, logs, and soil. Climbing structures must allow full expression of their arboreal tendencies. Denning boxes support the natural resting behavior of these largely solitary animals. Facilities that invest in species-specific sun bear enrichment report dramatic reductions in stereotypic behaviors and increases in natural activity budgets, demonstrating that welfare improvement is achievable.