Tigers in zoos serve conservation and education roles, but their welfare requirements — space, enrichment, and social management — must be met to justify captivity as an ethical enterprise.
Tigers kept in accredited zoos with large, complex enclosures and comprehensive enrichment programs can have reasonable welfare, particularly when kept as conservation ambassadors for wild populations. However, the gap between what tigers need and what most facilities provide remains large. The proliferation of private tiger ownership — driven by entertainment and exotic pet culture — creates massive welfare failures for animals kept in inadequate conditions. Effective tiger welfare requires ample space, behavioral enrichment targeting natural predatory behaviors, appropriate social management, and strong regulatory oversight. Conservation value does not offset poor welfare — both must be achieved.