The claws are long, curved and very pointed. Sun bears prefer lowland tropical rain forests. They are quite arboreal and are believed to sleep in trees. Sun bears are omnivorous, eating birds, small mammals, termites, the young tips of palm trees and the nests of wild bees. They have been known to cause crop damage particularly to oil palms.
Nothing is known about the sun bear's social organization in the wild.
Cubs are reported to stay with their mothers until fully grown. Through observation of captive sun bears it is believed that cubs can be born throughout the year. Gestation has been reported at 95 days, at 174 days, and at 240 days at varying zoos so it is unclear whether there is delayed implantation. Habitat loss in the sun bear's range is of major concern as is the pet trade, poaching for food, fur and the Asian medicinal trade. Due to genetic and demographic deterioration of the current North American captive population, new founder animals must soon be imported.