Polar bears in captivity require extraordinary enrichment programmes to address the behavioural needs that cannot be met by enclosure size alone. Enrichment reduces stereotypic behaviour.
Polar bear enrichment programmes represent a welfare imperative in facilities that continue to house this challenging species. While enrichment cannot fully address the fundamental mismatch between polar bear ecology and captive environments, well-designed programmes can significantly reduce stereotypic behaviour and provide meaningful stimulation. The most effective enrichment mimics components of natural hunting behaviour: unpredictable food access, novel scents from prey species, water features enabling swimming and diving, and ice-based environmental features in appropriate climates. Enrichment quality should be monitored through behavioural observation and stereotypy rate tracking.