Large felids including tigers and lions are among the most commonly kept zoo species but have profound welfare needs that many institutions struggle to meet. Evidence-based management is transforming outcomes.
Large felid welfare in captivity represents one of the most significant challenges in zoo management. These animals evolved as apex predators requiring large territories, complex hunting behaviors, and in some species sophisticated social structures. Translating these needs into a captive setting is genuinely difficult - the space requirements alone exceed what virtually any zoo can provide. The best institutions compensate through maximally complex environments, diverse and challenging enrichment, appropriate social grouping, and management that gives animals meaningful choices and agency. The welfare ceiling is lower than it would be in the wild, but committed institutions can achieve genuinely positive welfare states within these constraints.