Bears in captivity face challenges ranging from inadequate zoo environments to the extreme suffering of bile farming — welfare standards vary enormously.
The welfare of bears in captivity spans an enormous range from the extreme suffering of bile farming to the more complex but manageable welfare of accredited zoo populations. Bile farming represents one of the most egregious institutionalized welfare violations in existence — bears in metal crush cages with chronic wounds for the extraction of bile used in traditional medicine that has effective herbal substitutes. The campaign to end bile farming has achieved significant progress but China continues to operate thousands of facilities. Zoo bears face less extreme but still significant welfare challenges: large, intelligent animals with seasonal behavioral needs including hibernation drives that cannot be fully accommodated in captive environments. Welfare-conscious zoos work to provide complex habitat, foraging opportunities, and behavioral enrichment appropriate for large omnivores.