Large felids in zoos require complex enrichment programmes to prevent stereotypic behaviours and maintain psychological welfare, with modern best practice moving far beyond the traditional static exhibit approach.
Big cat welfare in zoos has improved substantially from the concrete-floor-and-iron-bar exhibits of the 20th century, but significant challenges remain. The fundamental constraint — space — cannot be fully resolved: no zoo can provide the ranging space that wild tigers or leopards require for psychological fulfilment. Enrichment programmes can substantially reduce stereotypies and increase time spent in active, varied behaviour, but they are a management intervention rather than a resolution of the underlying spatial limitation. Modern welfare science for big cats focuses on the concept of positive welfare states — not just absence of suffering but presence of positive experiences — through enrichment that activates natural behaviours. Institutions with robust enrichment programmes, appropriate social management, and qualified animal care staff provide substantially better welfare than those with static exhibits.