Tigers in AZA-accredited zoos participate in Species Survival Plans that balance conservation value with welfare needs in large, complex enclosures.
Zoo tiger welfare involves navigating the genuine tension between conservation contribution and the welfare costs of captivity. AZA-accredited zoos with large, complex enclosures and comprehensive enrichment programs can provide conditions where tigers express diverse natural behaviors and show low rates of stereotypy. These tigers contribute to genetic insurance populations for highly threatened subspecies. The welfare situation for the estimated 5,000-10,000 tigers in private ownership - roadside zoos, private collectors, and cub petting operations - is dramatically worse, involving barren enclosures and practices that cause significant suffering. The Big Cat Public Safety Act (2022) represents meaningful US legislative progress.