Big cats including lions, tigers, and leopards in captivity face welfare challenges from space restriction, social isolation, and inadequate enrichment.
Big cat captivity spans a spectrum from accredited zoological facilities with enrichment programs and welfare monitoring to roadside attractions and private collections where conditions are often appalling. Even well-resourced zoological facilities struggle to provide the space, social complexity, and behavioral opportunities that big cats require. The cub petting industry is particularly harmful — cubs are separated from mothers at birth, handled intensively for human entertainment, and then discarded to poorly regulated facilities when they become adult-sized. Policy progress on restricting private ownership has been significant but enforcement remains challenging.