Polar bears in zoos are among the most welfare-challenged megafauna, with extraordinary ranging needs and hunting behaviors that are nearly impossible to replicate in captive settings.
Polar bear captive welfare is an honest dilemma. Their extraordinary ranging needs, specialized hunting lifestyle, and high intelligence mean that captive environments are fundamentally inadequate. Modern well-resourced exhibits represent significant improvement over historical concrete pits, and complex water features, extensive enrichment, and larger spaces genuinely reduce stereotypic behavior. But the question of whether polar bear welfare can be genuinely adequate in any zoo setting deserves ongoing honest assessment, particularly as conservation justifications shift with climate change.