Tigers are critically endangered in the wild while thousands live in captive facilities with widely varying welfare standards. The relationship between conservation and captive welfare is complex.
The tiger welfare situation illustrates the extremes of captive animal care. AZA-accredited zoos provide large, enriched enclosures with appropriate social management and contribute to conservation through the Species Survival Plan. At the opposite extreme, cub petting operations and roadside attractions keep tigers in barren concrete enclosures as props for paying visitors. Private tiger owners frequently lack veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, or space for natural behaviors. The Big Cat Public Safety Act (2022) has begun to address this in the US, but enforcement remains challenging. The welfare gap between the best and worst captive tiger care is enormous.