Tigers are the most iconic of the big cats, but captive welfare is compromised in many facilities, while wild tiger populations face extinction from habitat loss and poaching.
Tiger welfare in captivity spans from world-class sanctuary conditions to commercial tiger farms where animals are bred for slaughter for traditional medicine products. In the latter, tigers live in concrete enclosures, often alone, with no opportunity to express natural behaviour. Even well-intentioned zoos struggle to provide adequate space for these wide-ranging predators. In the wild, tigers face habitat fragmentation, prey depletion, and poaching. Both dimensions — captive welfare and wild conservation — require simultaneous attention to protect tigers comprehensively.