Space
In the wild, Siberian tigers are solitary animals that heavily scent-mark their private territory. The big cats live China and Russia, an area that encompasses several types of terrains, wildlife and places for them to explore, sleep and hunt. When tigers are kept in confinements roaming turns into unhealthy pacing; with no room to exercise, their nearly 11-feet in length bodies are forced into tight communal spaces where they begin to show signs of ill health, boredom, anxiety and stress.
Diet
Another difference is that tigers in captivity fail to thrive without proper nutrition. Siberian tigers can reach weights of up to 400 pounds and consume live protein such as elk and wild boar. Up to 20 or 30 minutes is spent stalking prey before feeding on live food. In captivity Siberian tigers are fed bones and carcasses that do not allow for them to carry out their natural hunting instincts. As a result, the Siberian tiger can also exhibit signs of ill health or anxiety.
Aggression and Anatomy
In the wild, tigers that use their time following natural instincts have healthy body structures. Captive tigers that are forced to live in small confines have more of a chance to feel threatened, which results in the tigers showing signs of aggression such as growling and claw swatting. Additionally, tigers in captivity spend a great deal of their time grooming to release stress and eating a diet of processed foods. As a result, captive tigers have malformed skulls and weaker jaw muscles than their wild cousins.
Facts
Tigers adapt better when they are housed in environments that allow for natural instincts to be carried out. Tigers that experience natural textures such as rock and grass, as well as water pools and trees, experience less anxiety and boredom, which in turn reduces the chance that tigers may experience symptoms of depression. While many zoos generally do not feed tigers live animals, studies show that tigers thrive when allowed to experience hunting their own prey in other types of captive environments.
Current Efforts
In an effort to minimize health and mental illnesses, zoologist and veterinarians have established habitat enrichment programs to encourage behaviors that Siberian tigers would exhibit in the wild. Large areas are provided to allow each tiger personal space in both indoor habitats and outdoor exercise fields. While higher grade carcases and toys are also included into caged Siberian tigers habitats in high quality zoos, the illegal harboring and trade of tigers in sub-standard conditions almost always result in nutritional deficiencies and unpredictable behavior.