Spectacled bears — South America's only bear species — are shy, arboreal foragers that present distinctive welfare challenges in captivity due to their solitary habits and complex habitat needs.
Spectacled bears in zoos that lack vertical structure — logs, elevated platforms, climbing trees — are unable to express important natural behaviors and may develop stereotypies. Their foraging ecology is diverse and requires enrichment that matches this complexity: food hidden in browse, presented in puzzle feeders, or distributed throughout a large space. Social housing is inappropriate for most adult animals; forced cohabitation causes aggression and stress. Cloud forest microhabitats are cool and humid — bears in warm, dry zoo environments may show heat-related behavioral changes. Welfare assessment should include climbing frequency, foraging diversity, and absence of repetitive locomotor behaviors.