Private big cat ownership in the US has led to thousands of tigers and lions in substandard facilities requiring sanctuary intervention and strong oversight.
Tigers and lions in private ownership often live in small cages, fed inadequate diets, and used for cub-petting tourist experiences that require removing cubs from mothers at birth. Even after the Big Cat Public Safety Act, enforcement and rehoming of animals from closed facilities remains a major challenge. Genuine sanctuaries prohibit public contact and provide large naturalistic enclosures.