Wolverines are rarely kept in zoos due to their extreme spatial needs and solitary nature, but those that are housed in captivity present unique welfare challenges that push the limits of zoo management.
Wolverine welfare in captivity is a challenging edge case that tests the limits of what zoo environments can provide. The disconnect between a wolverine's wild spatial requirements — ranging hundreds of kilometres seasonally — and any feasible captive enclosure is profound. Stereotypic pacing in captive wolverines reflects this fundamental mismatch. The most welfare-positive approach for wolverines involves the largest possible enclosures with varied terrain, temperature-appropriate environments, intensive foraging enrichment including food caching opportunities, and careful avoidance of social housing that triggers aggression. Given the difficulty of meeting their needs adequately, the welfare case for wolverine captivity should be scrutinised carefully — the bar for justification through conservation or research value must be high.