Sun Bear Welfare and Enrichment | Animal Welfare Hub

Sun bears are the smallest bear species with specific welfare needs increasingly well understood in captivity.

Key Facts

Sun bears are native to Southeast Asian tropical forests and are vulnerable to extinction
Captive sun bears show high rates of stereotypic behaviour including pacing and swaying
Foraging enrichment is especially important as they spend much of their time foraging in the wild
Termite mound replicas and honey-filled logs are highly motivating enrichment items
Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Borneo is a leading sun bear welfare and conservation facility
Bile farming of sun bears in some countries causes extreme welfare harm
Bears at the Bornean facility show dramatically lower stereotypic behaviour than bears in poor facilities

Welfare Considerations

Sun bear welfare in captivity requires extensive, complex environments that challenge foraging, climbing and exploratory behaviours. Enclosures that fail to meet these needs produce stereotypically behaving animals experiencing chronic stress. The contrast between welfare at leading facilities like the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and poor-quality facilities is stark. Supporting good facilities and opposing bile farming are the two key welfare actions.

What You Can Do

Support the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre through donations
Never purchase traditional medicines containing bear bile or advertised as containing bear ingredients
Visit only zoos providing adequate complex environments for sun bears
Advocate against bear bile farming operations through campaigns targeting producers and retailers