Wild tiger welfare depends on prey availability, territory size, and minimising human disturbance — reserve management decisions directly determine individual tiger suffering and wellbeing.
Territorial conflict between tigers causes serious injury and death. Reserves that are too small force range overlap, increasing conflict frequency. Human disturbance through tourism and buffer zone encroachment disrupts hunting and cub rearing. Prey depletion forces tigers into human settlements where conflict and injury risk is high. Welfare-informed reserve management prioritises prey restoration and corridor creation.