Large carnivores including lions, tigers, and polar bears are among the most poorly suited species for zoo captivity. Their welfare challenges in confined environments are profound.
Large predator welfare in conventional zoo enclosures is systematically poor. Species with large natural territories and complex predatory behaviours cannot be adequately housed in zoo-scale enclosures. Stereotypic pacing is near-universal in polar bears in captivity, indicating chronic frustration and stress. Lions and tigers develop abnormal behaviours including bar-biting and excessive circling. The conservation argument for keeping large carnivores in traditional zoo enclosures is weak - they rarely reproduce successfully in captivity and cannot be released. Progressive zoos are phasing out large predator exhibits or converting to large naturalistic reserves with minimal public access.