"White Bear" depicts polar bears and their captivity environments in the world; it also attempts to shed light on the corresponding zoological issues. White Bear is not about polar bears — it studies the visible symptoms amid animals and their artificial habitats by focusing on one specific species. These enclosures, constructed to mimic the bears' habitat, are bizarre combinations of “nature” and “stage”. So far the project was executed in 10 countries and 24 enclosures, including Europe and China.
The video “The March of the Great White Bear” is based on the "stereotypical (looping) behaviors" of polar bears in captivity. Ethological studies have shown that stereotypical behaviors stem from limited captive environments that do not satisfy the animals' normal behavioral needs. It is also seen as a sign of psychological distress in animals, and therefore is an animal welfare issue.
