Tigers are solitary territorial predators whose captive management requires addressing space, behavioral complexity, and the particular challenges of housing large, powerful cats humanely.
Zoo tiger welfare is a high-profile challenge given the species' charismatic status and the proliferation of poorly regulated tiger facilities. Tigers in small enclosures show near-universal stereotypic pacing — a clear indicator of behavioral frustration. Their solitary nature means social management is less of an issue than for many species, but their predatory behavioral repertoire requires hunting-sequence enrichment to maintain psychological wellbeing. The proliferation of roadside zoos, cub petting operations, and private tiger ownership creates massive welfare problems for the hundreds of captive tigers in substandard conditions.