Bears across multiple species face lethal conflict with humans over livestock predation and property damage, with welfare and conservation consequences that coexistence programs seek to address.
Bear welfare spans a spectrum from wild bears navigating conflict with humans to captive bears in bile farming operations. Wild bears killed in livestock conflicts represent both welfare and conservation losses. Preventive strategies — securing attractants, electric fencing for apiaries and livestock, and aversive conditioning of problem individuals — reduce lethal outcomes. Bile farming represents one of the most severe ongoing welfare crises in Asia, with thousands of bears confined with permanent catheters causing chronic pain and infection. Support for sanctuary programs and campaign pressure for farm closures directly reduces bear suffering.