Tigers are iconic zoo animals but face significant welfare challenges. Understanding their needs helps evaluate zoo quality and support effective tiger conservation.
Tiger welfare in captivity is often compromised by enclosures that prioritize visitor viewing over animal needs. Stereotypic pacing is the clearest behavioral indicator of inadequate space and complexity. Well-designed tiger enclosures provide opportunities for stalking, swimming, scent-marking, and hiding — but these require substantial investment that not all facilities have made. The conservation argument for zoo tigers is significant but depends on whether captive tigers contribute meaningfully to wild population recovery, which varies by program.