Bears in captivity require large, complex environments to meet their substantial cognitive and physical needs, yet many zoo exhibits remain inadequate.
Bears in captivity face a fundamental challenge: their natural behaviour involves extensive ranging, complex foraging over large territories, and seasonal behavioural changes including hyperphagia and hibernation that are difficult to accommodate in zoo settings. The prevalence of stereotypic behaviour — repetitive pacing and swaying that indicate inadequate environments — in zoo bears across many institutions demonstrates the scale of the welfare problem. Bile bear farming in Asia represents an extreme welfare violation, confining bears in devices that prevent almost all movement for years while repeatedly extracting bile through abdominal fistulas. Sanctuary care for retired bile and performing bears, with large naturalistic enclosures and expert care, demonstrates what is achievable and provides a reference point for what zoo bear welfare should aspire to.