Amur (Siberian) tigers are among the rarest big cats, with captive populations playing a crucial role in species preservation. Ensuring high welfare is central to effective conservation breeding.
Amur tigers in well-managed facilities can have acceptable welfare — they are adaptable to cold climates and large enclosures, and breeding programmes have been successful. However, welfare challenges include insufficient space for the territorial requirements of this large subspecies, heat stress in facilities in warmer climates, and stress from the pairing process required for breeding. Welfare-centred management provides large enclosures with environmental complexity, temperature retreats, opportunities for natural hunting behaviour (live prey enrichment where ethically justified), and careful management of public disturbance during sensitive periods.