Wildlife

Captive Bear Welfare Across Contexts

Bears in captivity — from sanctuaries to bile farms — face diverse welfare challenges tied to their complex needs.

Key Facts

Bears require vast territories — captive spaces satisfy almost none of this need
Bile bears on farms in Asia endure continuous surgical catheterization of the gallbladder
Bear baiting remains practiced in some South Asian countries
Bear sanctuaries provide dramatically better welfare than farms or baiting pits

Welfare Considerations

Bears are highly intelligent, wide-ranging animals whose welfare needs cannot be met in most captive settings. Bile farms cause continuous chronic pain from surgical extraction devices. Baiting pits cause traumatic injury from combat. Even well-intentioned zoo exhibits rarely provide adequate space or cognitive stimulation. Sanctuaries with large naturalistic enclosures represent the best available option.

What You Can Do

Support organizations working to end bear bile farming in Asia
Oppose bear baiting through international advocacy
Never purchase bear bile products or bear-based traditional medicine
Support bear sanctuary programs providing large, naturalistic enclosures