Polar bears in zoos face significant welfare challenges. As climate change threatens wild populations, the conservation and welfare justification for captive polar bears is increasingly scrutinised.
Polar bear welfare in zoos is contentious precisely because the species' needs are so extreme. Animals adapted for vast Arctic landscapes, seal hunting on sea ice, and extreme seasonal metabolism struggle in captivity even in the best facilities. Stereotypies are a persistent welfare indicator even in well-resourced zoos, signalling that enclosures cannot fully compensate for the animal's spatial and behavioural needs. The conservation argument — educating publics about climate threats to wild polar bears — has merit but does not require keeping polar bears if welfare cannot be adequately met. Zoos should honestly assess whether their facilities meet welfare standards rather than defaulting to conservation justifications for inadequate housing.