Bears in zoo settings require extensive environmental complexity and enrichment to prevent stereotypic behavior and support the high intelligence and exploratory drive of these large omnivores.
Bear welfare in captivity is deeply dependent on the provision of complex, naturalistic environments that engage their exceptional intelligence and foraging motivation. A bear pacing in a small concrete enclosure is one of the most recognizable images of inadequate zoo welfare - stereotypy in bears is so common in poor facilities that it has become associated with zoo keeping generally. Modern well-designed bear exhibits with pools, digging substrate, varied food enrichment, and complex terrain allow bears to express a much fuller behavioral repertoire. The investment required to house bears appropriately is substantial, which is why only well-resourced institutions committed to genuine welfare standards should maintain bears. Older inadequate facilities should transition animals to sanctuaries rather than continuing inadequate care.