The Pros and Cons of Keeping Tigers In Captivity

“The tiger is the biggest of the big cats, reaching an extraordinary 4 meters in length and 350 kilograms in weight-as heavy as 100 domestic cats!” (“Tiger Facts” 1). That is one big cat! You might think that such a large predator would thrive, but tigers are an endangered species, and have been for years. “Intelligent and agile, big cats are ideally designed to hunt, with sharp teeth and claws, strong jaws, powerful bodies, excellent eyesight, acute hearing and a good sense of smell” (“Tiger Facts” 1). They are also very beautiful; these are some of the reasons why tigers are used in circuses, displayed in zoos, seen at fairs, and even kept as personal pets. Keeping tigers captive can be good or bad taking into account the feeding and nutrition, veterinary and health care, environment, pros and cons, and the fact that it is an endangered species.

Wild tigers live mainly in Asia. “The population is distributed over six countries: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.” (Sinha 57). However, they can be found all around the world in captivity. There are eight different breeds of tiger; “they are the Siberian, Chinese, Indochinese, Sumatran, Javan, Balinese, Caspian, and Indian (also known as Bengal). Of these eight the Bali, Javan, and Caspian/Persian tigers are extinct” (Ives 139). This means there are only 5 breeds of tiger left, possibly less than that, and they are all in the endangered species category. “According to the law, endangered species are those that are in danger of extinction throughout all or a portion of their range” (Williamson and Henry 11). In other words, today’s tigers are disappearing fast and the question is, why?

All living things need to eat to survive and sometimes that means eating oth...

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...trying hard to save this dying species, but it is a difficult job and they cannot do it alone. The tigers need our help as well.

Works Cited

Sinha, Vivek. The Vanishing Tiger. London: Salamander

Books, 2003. Print.

Ives, Richard. Of Tigers and Men. New York: Nan A.

Talese, 1996. Print.

Rabinowitz, Alan. "A Question of Balance." National

Geographic April 2004: 98-117. Print.

"Tiger Facts." Born Free. Web. 9 October 2009.

Williamson, D.F. and L.A. Henry. 2008. Paper Tigers?: The Role of the U.S.

Captive Tiger Population in the Trade in Tiger Parts. TRAFFIC North America, Washington D.C.: World Wildlife Fund.

"Management and Conservation of Captive Tigers." 5 Tigers. Web. 23 October 2009.

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Rives, Shannon. Personal Interview. 8 January 2010.