Polar bears in zoos are among the most welfare-challenged captive animals. Their requirements for space, cold, and complex foraging behavior are difficult to meet in zoo settings.
Polar bears represent one of the strongest welfare arguments against keeping certain species in captivity. The gulf between their natural ranging requirements and what any zoo can provide is enormous. The pacing stereotypy seen in zoo polar bears is an indicator of the psychological stress caused by confinement in inadequate space. Climate change has created an additional layer of welfare concern — wild populations face deteriorating habitat while captive animals in inadequate conditions continue to live for decades. The welfare case for not breeding polar bears in captivity, while difficult politically and emotionally for institutions invested in the species, is compelling.