More tigers live in captivity in the United States than exist in the wild globally, raising urgent welfare concerns about private ownership and roadside zoo conditions.
Private tigers in the US occupy a welfare crisis created by decades of weak regulation. Animals used as photo props as cubs are then confined in small cages for life when they become dangerous adults. Declawing and defanging cause chronic pain and behavioral abnormalities. The Big Cat Public Safety Act is a major welfare advance, but implementation and enforcement are ongoing challenges. Accredited sanctuaries like The Wildcat Sanctuary provide the standard of care these animals need.