Sun bears are the smallest bears in the game and some of the most entertaining. They're curious, they climb everything, and they'll happily play with toys up a tree. They don't need a giant habitat, but they do need a strong barrier, soil underfoot and lots to climb.
The barrier: go higher than the minimum
Sun bears need a barrier of about 9 ft (2.75 m) at grade 3, and it has to be climb-proof. I always build to 10 ft (3 m) for a bit of safety. A concrete barrier with glass viewing windows is the easy choice. If the barrier shows a grade warning, raise it.
Keep climbable trees away from the barrier. Tropical canopy trees are climbable, and a bear in a tree next to the fence is a bear outside the fence.
Ground and plants
- Almost all soil, with a little waterlogged ground, a few patches of wild grass and some rock paint.
- Plenty of plant coverage: tropical canopy trees, climbers and semi-aquatic plants. Sun bears like a jungle feel.
Shelter
The shelter has to be bigger than you expect. My first rock shelter wasn't enough for a pair. If the welfare tab still complains, scale it up or flip it so more of the covered area is usable.
Water
A water hole with a pump. I put mine near the keeper entrance so it's easy to reach and filter.
Climbing and enrichment
Sun bears want climbable structures. The jungle gym climbing frame is perfect. After that, give them plenty of enrichment:
- Food tray
- Foraging wall and bamboo feeder
- Block of ice. You can place it up in a tree, which is very cute.
- Suspended kettlebell
- Wind chimes
- Rubber duck that floats in the pool
Temperature
Sun bears come from tropical Southeast Asia. On a cold map they'll start feeling chilly, so add a habitat heater.
Group
A male and female pair works well. Check the Zoopedia for group limits before adding more.
Tips
- Sun bears are a great "first bear". They're smaller than grizzlies or brown bears, so you learn bear barriers without needing a huge habitat.
- A sun bear habitat looks best with layers: a raised climbing area, a lower pool and dense jungle planting around the edge.