Polar bears are wide-ranging Arctic predators that present some of the most challenging welfare questions in zoo management, with their space and thermal needs barely achievable in typical facilities.
Polar bear welfare in captivity is among the most contested in zoo animal management. The extreme mismatch between their natural ranging behaviour, spanning thousands of square kilometres of sea ice, and the largest available zoo enclosures, typically less than a hectare, creates a welfare gap that even the best enrichment programmes struggle to bridge. Research documenting chronic stereotypic behaviour in the majority of captive polar bears suggests that the species cannot currently be kept at adequate welfare standards in typical zoo facilities. Several respected institutions have reached this conclusion and ended their polar bear programmes. Those that continue keeping polar bears have a responsibility to maximise welfare through the largest possible enclosures, cooling provisions, extensive daily enrichment, and honest welfare monitoring.