Tigers face extinction in the wild while thousands are held in captivity. Not all captive tigers contribute to conservation, and welfare standards vary enormously.
The tiger welfare situation is bifurcated: accredited zoo tigers receive increasingly good welfare with large exhibits, enrichment, and proper veterinary care, while the majority of captive tigers worldwide live in poor conditions in private facilities or tiger farms where welfare is minimal or non-existent. Tiger farms produce animals for commercial slaughter and parts extraction, not conservation; their existence may also undermine wild tiger protection by normalising tiger product trade. Cub petting operations exploit the appeal of tiger cubs to tourists; cubs are typically separated from mothers immediately after birth, handled continuously by strangers, and discarded into inadequate housing when they grow too large. Consumer choices — avoiding cub petting and tiger part products — directly affect both wild tiger populations and captive tiger welfare.