Sun bears face specific welfare challenges in captivity related to their intelligence, foraging needs, and the persistence of bear bile farming in Southeast Asia.
Sun bear welfare encompasses both the acute suffering of bear bile farming victims and the ongoing welfare needs of captive bears in sanctuaries and zoos. Bear bile farming represents extreme, chronic welfare harm - bears in permanent bare cages with bile extracted through invasive procedures represent some of the worst conditions endured by captive animals globally. Sanctuaries like those run by Free the Bears provide rehabilitation environments where rescued bears can express natural behaviors. Wild sun bear conservation is also a welfare priority as habitat loss forces encounters with humans that often end fatally for bears.