Tigers in AZA-accredited zoos participate in Species Survival Plans while welfare standards have improved dramatically to better meet the behavioral needs of these large felids.
Tiger welfare in modern accredited facilities has improved substantially from small concrete exhibits of previous decades. Large naturalistic spaces that allow swimming, hunting-related play, and territorial marking provide richer behavioral opportunities. Protected contact management that allows tigers agency in veterinary interactions reduces stress compared to forced procedures. The welfare challenge remains matching the vast wild ranging of tigers - individuals with territories of hundreds of square kilometers - with the space constraints of any captive facility.