Polar bears in zoos face unique welfare challenges related to heat stress, swimming needs, and the behavioral complexity of a wide-ranging Arctic predator, while wild populations face existential threats from climate change.
Polar bear welfare in zoos represents one of the clearest examples of species-environment mismatch. An animal adapted for vast Arctic sea ice cannot have its fundamental spatial, thermal, and behavioral needs met in any zoo setting. The near-universal stereotypy in captive polar bears reflects this fundamental incompatibility. Large pools with varied water depth, ice provision in summer months, and complex feeding enrichment reduce stereotypy frequency and provide positive welfare experiences — but do not provide welfare equivalent to even a minimal wild existence. The ethical question of polar bear captivity is increasingly debated, with some accreditation systems beginning to restrict new polar bear acquisitions.