Bears in zoo settings require extensive behavioral enrichment to prevent stereotypic behaviors and maintain the cognitive and physical engagement characteristic of healthy wild bears.
Bear welfare in captivity has been transformed by recognition that these highly intelligent, wide-ranging animals need behavioral complexity far beyond what traditional zoo exhibits provided. The stereotype of pacing bears — once considered normal zoo behavior — is now understood as a clear indicator of chronic environmental inadequacy. Modern bear husbandry emphasizes foraging enrichment that activates natural problem-solving, olfactory enrichment that engages the bear's primary sense, water features for swimming, and seasonal variation that provides behavioral novelty throughout the year. Bears maintained in enriched environments show drastically reduced stereotypic behavior and behavioral repertoires that much more closely resemble wild individuals. This transformation demonstrates the welfare value of species-appropriate behavioral design.