Brown bears are large, wide-ranging omnivores with complex foraging and cognitive needs. Their welfare in zoo settings requires large spaces, varied enrichment, and appropriate social management.
Brown bear welfare in zoo settings is compromised by the enormous mismatch between their natural ranging behaviour and zoo enclosure sizes. The development of stereotypic behaviours in the majority of captive brown bears indicates that this welfare deficit cannot be fully addressed through enrichment alone, though extensive enrichment programmes significantly reduce stereotypy frequency and improve welfare indicators. Foraging enrichment that distributes varied food types across complex terrain, requires sustained effort to obtain, and changes daily provides the most welfare benefit. Hibernation management, including providing conditions that allow torpor or reduced activity through winter, addresses a fundamental biological need. The welfare case for keeping brown bears in zoo settings deserves honest evaluation given the evidence of chronic welfare compromise.