Sir, I am responding to Clifford Warwick's comments on my review of Ormrod's Captive Polar Bear Report. It is hard to accept that Ormrod's report, which seems largely negative in its conclusions, can be described as ‘well intentioned’. He made no suggestions for changes or improvements to the welfare of polar bears at present in zoos. It is easy to condemn zoos for keeping these animals, some of which have been inherited by current management, but it does nothing to improve their lives. I certainly agree with Ormrod that captive polar bears present a problem, but we differ in our solutions.