Big cats in captivity range from well-managed zoo populations to exploitative cub petting operations. Understanding the spectrum helps advocates push for higher standards.
The welfare of captive big cats varies enormously across the spectrum of facilities that hold them. Accredited zoos provide large, enriched enclosures, veterinary care, and species-appropriate social groups as part of coordinated conservation programs. At the other end of the spectrum, private menageries, cub petting attractions, and captive hunt operations provide inadequate space, enrichment, and veterinary care, and exist primarily for commercial exploitation. The 2022 Big Cat Public Safety Act in the US was a significant regulatory advance. Consumer choices to avoid cub petting and big cat selfie attractions directly reduce demand for exploitative operations.