Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with fewer than 400 individuals remaining in the wild. Well-managed zoo populations serve as an insurance against extinction while funding field conservation in Sumatra.
Tigers in captivity require enclosures that allow full expression of natural predatory and territorial behaviours: stalking, sprinting, scent-marking, and swimming. Welfare problems arise in barren, undersized exhibits that lead to stereotypic pacing and hypervigilance. Best-practice facilities provide multi-acre naturalistic habitats, scent enrichment with novel objects, live prey simulation through puzzle feeders, and regular positive-reinforcement training for cooperative veterinary care. Visitor noise and proximity must be managed to avoid chronic stress.