Brown bears in zoological collections have complex welfare needs around hibernation, foraging complexity and seasonal behaviour that challenge standard zoo management approaches.
Brown bear welfare in zoos requires seasonal management thinking - their physiology and behaviour change with seasons, and management must adapt accordingly. Summer management needs to support active foraging, exploration and social interaction; winter management needs to support reduced activity and pseudo-hibernation without forcing continued stimulation. Year-round foraging enrichment must be complex enough to occupy an animal whose wild counterpart spends most of its waking hours food-finding. Bears that lack adequate space and enrichment develop stereotypic behaviours that are welfare indicators - once established, stereotypies are difficult to eliminate even with improved conditions. Preventing stereotypy through appropriate conditions from the start is far more effective than correcting it later.