Tigers are solitary, wide-ranging predators whose welfare in captivity depends heavily on adequate space, complexity, and opportunities for natural behaviour.
Tigers in captivity are highly susceptible to stereotypic behaviour when space is insufficient or environments lack complexity. Research has shown that enclosure size, complexity, and enrichment frequency are the strongest predictors of stereotypy rates. Best-practice tiger husbandry includes large naturalistic enclosures, off-exhibit night quarters, daily enrichment variation, and management that respects the species' solitary and predatory nature.