Polar bears are highly specialised Arctic predators whose welfare in captivity is challenged by warm climates, limited space, and the absence of their natural sea ice hunting environment.
Polar bear welfare in captivity raises fundamental questions about whether their welfare needs can be adequately met in any zoo environment. Their specialisation for Arctic sea ice hunting is so profound that no captive facility can replicate the conditions in which their behaviour evolved. Stereotypic pacing — a reliable welfare indicator — has historically been prevalent in polar bear exhibits worldwide. The most welfare-positive current approach provides very large, environmentally complex facilities with deep pools for swimming, diverse terrain for climbing and foraging, and cognitive enrichment that challenges their problem-solving capacity. The conservation justification for polar bear captivity rests on education and awareness of climate change threats rather than traditional breeding-for-release rationale.