Polar bears are highly specialised Arctic predators whose welfare in captivity is profoundly constrained by their natural requirements for vast sea ice territories, swimming, hunting, and cold temperatures.
Polar bear welfare in captivity represents one of the most significant ongoing ethical debates in zoo management. The combination of vast natural home ranges, specialist hunting behaviour tied to sea ice, swimming ecology, and cold temperature requirements creates a welfare deficit in even the best-designed zoo exhibits that cannot be bridged by enrichment alone. The documented high rate of stereotypic behaviour in captive polar bears is a direct welfare indicator. A growing number of zoo professionals and welfare scientists argue that polar bears cannot have adequate welfare in zoo settings, and that the conservation argument — raising awareness of climate threats — does not justify the individual suffering involved. Facilities that have retired their programmes should be recognised for this decision.