Malayan sun bears are often housed solitarily in zoos, but research and sanctuary experience shows they can form positive social bonds when introductions are carefully managed.
Sun bear social housing decisions reflect broader uncertainty about the social needs of species that are flexible in their wild sociality. Assuming solitary housing is appropriate because animals can survive alone risks denying positive social experiences to animals capable of benefiting from them. Sanctuary experience demonstrates that sun bears with appropriate introductions and managed relationships show affiliative behaviors and reduced stereotypy. Zoos should invest in expertise and infrastructure for safe sun bear social introductions rather than defaulting to solitary housing as the easier management choice.