Click on the buttons below (or scroll down the page) and then on the names of individual zoos and bears for detailed information (where available).
This directory lists 124 zoos, aquariums and parks (including one circus) known or believed to be keeping polar bears at present and a number of others planning to do so or to have done so in the recent past.
A number of the above already have detailed reviews of their facilities and husbandry. It is hoped by the end of 2024 to have detailed entries for all of those currently housing polar bears.
We have listed 289 captive polar bears; it is possible that there are others we are not yet aware of. However, it is certain that some of the bears, probably at least five, listed in China are brown bear / polar bear hybrids. To date 83 of the bears have detailed biographical entries (follow the links from the directory). More are being added every month.
To read more on the basic welfare requirements for captive polar bears click here.
In 2002 the Canadian Polar Bear Protection Act was enacted, the so called “Manitoba Standards”; download a copy here.
You can download a copy of the 2018 International Studbook for Polar Bears from our server by clicking here (contains information submitted up to 30 June 2019).
For information on polar bears that have died in captivity click here.
Pezoo (male) moved from here in 2018 back to Tianjin Haichang Polar Ocean Park where he was born. He has since disappeared and may be dead. We have left Zoo’s page active with his details, although no polar bears are there at present, so far as we are aware.
In 2010 it was reported that a male bear named “Obama” had arrived. No evidence was found of Obama or any other at being this facility in 2023.
Wuxi Sunac Ocean Park
The park opened in December 2019. In 2017 China Daily reported that it was intended to “resettle” polar bears here. No reports of them being here have been located to date.
Fubuki (male) (born Oga Aquarium 26 December 2020)
Himeji City Zoo
No polar bears since 6 January 2020. In March 2021 the zoo told us that, due to the historic nature of the site, it was not possible to carry out the large-scale renovation works that would be necessary to provide an acceptable environment for polar bears and that they had no plans to keep them in the future.
In October 2018 the exhibit was closed to be refurbished to house the zoo’s two grizzly bears. The zoo hopes to fund-raise to build a new polar bear exhibit.