Spectacled bears are the only bear species native to South America and highly arboreal frugivores. Zoo welfare requires tall climbing structures, fruit-rich diets, and expert management of their shy, conflict-avoidant nature.
Spectacled bear welfare in captivity depends heavily on diet variety and arboreal complexity. As frugivores, they require a diverse fruit-based diet supplemented with browse, vegetables, and protein — monotonous diets cause nutritional boredom and may lead to stereotypic behaviour. Climbing structures must be tall and robust enough to support a large adult bear — inadequate structures result in ground-bound animals unable to express natural resting and foraging postures. Their shy temperament means high-traffic visitor areas cause chronic stress — retreat areas with visual barriers and low-noise environments are essential. Keeper relationships based on positive reinforcement training allow voluntary veterinary procedures and reduce handling stress. Social housing is possible for mated pairs but requires careful monitoring given size dimorphism. Zoos holding spectacled bears should contribute to Andean cloud forest conservation education.