Polar bears in zoos face climate-related welfare challenges as warming temperatures affect their physical comfort, behavioral patterns, and the conservation relevance of their captive populations.
Polar bear welfare in zoos is increasingly problematic as climate change makes maintaining adequate thermal environments more expensive and technically challenging. The species has evolved behavioral and physiological adaptations to Arctic conditions that simply cannot be replicated in most zoo environments. Persistent stereotypic pacing, heat stress, and the inability to engage in natural hunting behaviors create welfare challenges that progressive welfare assessment acknowledges as significant. Zoos maintaining polar bears face the ethical responsibility of providing the highest possible welfare within their constraints while honestly evaluating whether their programs genuinely serve welfare and conservation goals.