Are Concrete Floors and Fence Walls Enough? Ways to Improve Lion and Tiger Captivity Enclosures

By Jaden Marrow

Photo By Trevor Paterson

​According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, an estimated 10,000 big cats live in captivity in the United States. The number of lions is unknown, but the World Wildlife Fund estimates 5,000 captive tigers are in the United States. However, only 6% of these captive tigers are in zoos, with many residing in research facilities, breeding facilities, or are privately owned (World Wildlife Fund). While many organizations focus on stopping big cat captivity, already captured tigers and lions cannot be released into the wild because they would not survive due to their lack of essential survival skills. There are many factors affecting these nonhuman animals’ well-being, including how they are housed, how they are treated, and what they are fed. Three ways caretakers can improve lion and tiger capacity is by providing large enclosures, a natural environment, and implementing a natural feeding schedule.

Lions are a social species, they live in prides ranging from one to twenty-one females. The female lions and their offspring stay together year-round while male lions temporarily join the pride for breeding. Conversely, tigers spend time in solitude in the wild when they do not have dependent cubs. Tigers tend to be territorial and aggressive towards their own species when they are not breeding (Galardi et al., 2021). As a result, it is common for these nonhuman animals to exhibit stereotypy behaviors in captivity, these behaviors are patterns of movement that have no function or goal. They often include pacing, head bobbing, and fur licking. Stereotypy behaviors are rarely seen in the wild, meaning they are an indication of stress in the captive nonhuman animal (Pitsko, 2003).

​​Providing lions and tigers with large enclosures suitable for their needs can decrease stereotypy behavior. In a study conducted by Goswami et al., 2023 of 41 Asiatic lions in the Sakkarbaug Zoological Park in Junagadh, India, it was found that smaller enclosures with frequent visitors increased stress. On days the visitors were not present the stress-induced behaviors did not decrease, suggesting that the stress on the lions and tigers creates lasting effects.  

Photo By Christopher Gimmer

Alternatively, lions who were provided with larger, more stimulating enclosures such as safari enclosures were not significantly affected by the presence of visitors, and their behavior did not differ on non-visitor days (Goswami et al., 2023). ​Another reason to implement large enclosures is the ability to provide more natural social housing. Galardi et al., 2021 studied a pride of 21 lions and a streak of 10 tigers at the Fasano Zoo Safari in Italy. When housed in larger groups, the tigers created smaller social groups and did not share enclosure spaces with more than one or two other tigers. Lions in larger exhibits were able to create two prides who coexisted. The zoo had large safari enclosures, which made this possible because of the sufficient space provided. The enclosures studied were much larger than typical zoo enclosures and included refugia, trees, shrubs, ponds, and shaded areas (Galardi et al., 2021). This suggests by housing lions and tigers in larger spaces they may be more comfortable and may exhibit less stereotypy behavior.
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Furthermore, natural vegetation and materials similar to the big cats’ wild environment can increase their movement levels and provide enrichment. Historically, zoos have had concrete floors, which were thought to be more hygienic, however, studies have found they are less sanitary and cause more odors. Using wood chip floors in the enclosure can lower the chances of parasites and sore footpads (Pitsko, 2003). Moreover, in the wild, lions and tigers receive sensory information that is not provided in captivity. They should be provided with vegetation, water features, rocks, and other natural features that promote natural behavior. According to Pitsko (2003) “The presence of a pool, stream, tub, pond, or other water body increased exploratory behaviors and strongly reduced stereotypic pacing” (p. 31). Additionally, she found that when tigers at T & D’s Cats of the World were given a tub of fresh water, they used it every day and even engaged playfully with the water.

The Bannerghatta Biological Park | Photo By Kumar250rehul, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Another factor important to tiger and lion enclosures is shade. Zoos in North America experience vastly different weather than the natural habitat of tigers and lions (Young et al., 2013). In Pitsko's (2003) study of 8 tigers, the tigers spent 90% of their time in the shade during hot summer days. Additionally, when a research team observed two lions and two tigers at the Toronto Zoo in Ontario, Canada, they found that the cats cooled themselves by limiting activity, lying in the shade or on cool surfaces, and going in the water. The female lion in the study chose to lay on a gunite rock on hot days and a natural rock when it was cooler, proving that the type of materials present in the enclosure is important (Young et al., 2013).

In addition, gorge feeding may be a better alternative to daily feeding for lions and tigers. In the wild, lions work together in prides to hunt larger prey while tigers hunt in solitary. Typically, both lions and tigers spend significant time feeding on large prey and usually do not eat every day in the wild. However, in captivity, they are given small meals throughout the day, which is very different from their natural instincts. Gorge feeding consists of feeding nonhuman animals large meals less often, such as giving them naturally deceased full carcasses twice a week (Amundrod, 2023).  A study by Amundrod (2023) found that gorge feeding reduced pacing in tigers and lions. It also increased feeding time, similar to non-domesticated lions' and tigers' feeding habits.

Amundrod (2023) states, “Imagining the animals were more content and satisfied after gorge meals, they might sleep more when lying instead of lying awake.” (P. 29). Likewise, feeding large cats whole nonhuman animal parts may enhance animal health by increasing teeth and jaw muscle health (Pitsko, 2003).  By converting to a gorge feeding schedule caretakers can
stimulate lions' and tigers' instincts and promote natural feeding.

Ultimately, although we may not be able to go back in time and prevent these large cats from experiencing captivity, we can push for better conditions that would improve their life. Lion and tiger housing facilities need to improve their enclosures by providing large safari-like spaces, natural vegetation, and a natural feeding schedule. Studies have shown that these factors can decrease stereotypy behavior and stress in these nonhuman animals. Additionally, you can help lions and tigers by becoming involved in rescue and wildlife organizations.
Below I have listed some organizations to look into.

• https://www.wildcatsanctuary.org/
• https://carolinatigerrescue.org/
• https://panthera.org/
• https://www.internationaltigerproject.org/
• https://lionrecoveryfund.org/
• https://www.worldwildlife.org/
• https://bigcatrescue.org/​

References

Amundrød, H. D. (2023). The effect of feeding routines on lions and tigers in a zoo environment (thesis). Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.

Big cats in captivity rescue and advocacy - United States. IFAW. (n.d.). https://www.ifaw.org/projects/big-cats-in-captivity-rescue-and-advocacy-united-states

Galardi EG, Pastorino GQ, Fabbroni M, Rausa FA, Preziosi R, et al. An investigation into the Behavior, Sociality and Enclosure Use of Group-Housed Lions and Tigers. J Vet Med Animal Sci. 2021; 4(1): 1068.

Goswami, S., Tyagi, P. C., Malik, P. K., & Gupta, B. K. (2023). Effects of enclosure complexity and visitor presence on the welfare of Asiatic lions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 260, 105853-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105853

Henry, L. (2020, March 31). 5 things tiger king doesn’t explain about Captive Tigers | stories | WWF. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/5-things-tiger-king-doesn-t-explain-about-captive-tigers

Pitsko, L. E. (2003). Wild tigers in captivity: A study of the effects of the captive environment on tiger behavior (thesis). Wild Tigers in Captivity: A Study of the Effects of the Captive Environment on Tiger Behavior. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.
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Young, T., Finegan, E., & Brown, R. D. (2013). Effects of summer microclimates on behavior of lions and tigers in zoos. International Journal of Biometeorology, 57(3), 381–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0562-6

Author Bio

​Jadeyn Morrow is a sophomore at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and playing volleyball. Her favorite non-human animals are her cats Chloe, Sneakers, and Pheobe.