Zoos may be shortening bears' lives with the wrong diets

A new study highlights the dietary needs of bears in captivity. It reveals that many zoos may be feeding them the wrong kinds of food. This could be shortening their lifespans and harming their health. Sloth bears naturally eat a high-fat, low-carb diet, mainly consisting of termites, ants, and their larvae. In human care, they have been fed high-protein diets, similar to those given to strict carnivores like cats. This mismatch may explain why captive sloth bears die up to 20 years earlier than those in the wild.

Other bear species also have distinct dietary preferences. Grizzly bears thrive on a balanced mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Giant pandas, on the other hand, prefer carbohydrate-rich bamboo stalks over protein-dense leaves. This makes them low-protein, high-carbohydrate omnivores, unlike sloth bears, which are low-protein, high-fat omnivores.

Researchers note that bears, like humans, are omnivores. They instinctively choose foods that optimise their health. Zoos have often treated polar bears, brown bears, and sloth bears as protein-dependent carnivores, which may be causing harm. The findings suggest zoos should reconsider their feeding practices. Matching diets to the natural preferences of each bear species could improve their health and longevity. This approach aligns with the animals’ own instincts for selecting nutritious foods.