An estimated 7000-8000 tigers live in captivity in the US alone, often in conditions that fall far below accredited zoo standards.
Tigers require territories of up to 100 square kilometres in the wild. Captive tigers in private ownership or non-accredited facilities are typically kept in barren enclosures with insufficient enrichment, social contact, or veterinary care. Stress-induced stereotypies are widespread. Cubs used in petting encounters are removed from mothers early and typically discarded when they reach an age where they can no longer be safely handled.