The welfare challenges of maintaining polar bears in captivity as climate change threatens their wild counterparts.
Polar bear welfare in zoos remains one of the most contested questions in zoo animal care. The scale of their natural environment cannot be replicated in any zoo, and stereotypic pacing is nearly universal even in the best facilities. The welfare case for polar bear captivity rests on conservation value, public education, and the argument that high-quality facilities with maximum environmental complexity provide a life worth living. Critics argue that welfare cannot be achieved at any feasible zoo scale and that welfare arguments should redirect resources to wild habitat protection.