Tigers in zoos require extensive territories, complex enrichment, and careful social management to achieve acceptable welfare in captivity.
Captive tigers present significant welfare challenges due to their wide-ranging, solitary, and territorial nature. Insufficient space and environmental complexity lead to stereotypic pacing and other repetitive behaviours indicating chronic stress. Best practice facilities provide multi-acre naturalistic enclosures with varied terrain, water features, hiding areas, and rotational use of spaces to provide novelty. Enrichment programmes must be daily and varied. The conservation value of zoo tigers is debated; population management requires coordinated international breeding programmes but reintroduction success is limited.