Bears in captivity face profound welfare challenges due to their large territory requirements, high intelligence, and behavioral plasticity that makes welfare compromises highly visible.
Bear welfare in captivity spans the full spectrum from severely compromised to reasonably adequate. Bear bile farming — keeping bears in tiny crush cages for continuous bile catheterization — represents one of the most extreme forms of animal suffering in current use. Traditional bear pits provide insufficient space, substrate, and behavioral complexity for animals with enormous cognitive and physical needs. Modern zoo facilities with pools, climbing structures, natural substrates, and varied enrichment can meet more bear behavioral needs, though space remains limited. Conservation efforts to end bile farming have achieved significant success in China, with phase-out programs advancing.