Bears in captivity face significant welfare challenges. Understanding the history of bear exploitation and the standards now required for good welfare highlights how far we have come and how far we still need to go.
The history of captive bear welfare is one of the most troubling in animal exploitation. Dancing bears were captured as cubs after their mothers were killed, had their teeth and claws removed, and were trained through pain. Bile farm bears spend years in cages too small to turn around, with painful extraction procedures. Even in more benign zoo settings, polar bears - whose ranges span hundreds of kilometres - frequently develop severe stereotypic behaviors that indicate profound psychological suffering. The good news is that sanctuaries have demonstrated bears' remarkable capacity for recovery when given appropriate care. This represents both an opportunity and an obligation.