Zoo Brown Bear Welfare and Sanctuary Standards

The welfare needs of brown bears in captivity and the sanctuary model that best meets those needs.

Key Facts

Brown bears in the wild range over territories of up to 7,000 square km in North America
Bears rescued from bile farming, performance entertainment, and substandard zoos require specialized sanctuary care
WSPA and other organizations have worked to close bear baiting pits and bile farms across Asia and Europe
Brown bears require complex terrain, water features, foraging opportunities, and denning structures in captivity
Solitary by nature, brown bears may be housed in compatible pairs or small groups where social compatibility exists
Sanctuary standards for bears are developed by WSPA and European Association of Zoos and Aquaria

Welfare Considerations

Brown bear welfare in captivity spans a wide range from truly excellent sanctuary conditions to the horrific circumstances of bile farms and entertainment bears. The sanctuary model — large naturalistic enclosures providing forest, water, and foraging complexity for rescued individual bears — represents the best achievable captive welfare for a species whose territorial needs cannot be fully met in any enclosure. The welfare priority for bears is their internal world: providing cognitive stimulation, physical activity, appropriate hibernation conditions, and freedom from fear and chronic stress rather than simply space per se.

What You Can Do

Support Four Paws, Animals Asia, and Wildlife SOS rescue programs for bears in poor welfare conditions
Oppose bear bile products and advocate for traditional medicine alternatives
Visit sanctuary facilities rather than bile farms or entertainment venues when traveling in Asia
Donate to bear sanctuary operations providing lifetime care for rescued animals