Captive tigers cannot be introduced to the wild where tigers belong because they do not have the skills to survive. At PAWS, our focus is on providing the best life for the tigers in our care, based on their individual needs.
Rosemary and Morris at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary
Tigers are solitary carnivores but in captivity we often see them
housed together. The way they socialize (or not) in captivity and
their social lives in the wild do not necessarily reflect one
another. In fact, this presents yet another example of how captivity
distorts the true nature of wild animals.
Tiger sociality is different than that of highly social animals such
as elephants and nonhuman primates who have close and enduring
social ties.
Although mainly solitary, there are opportunities for wild tigers to
engage in complex interactions with other tigers through repeated
contacts. These can include the scent marks that tigers leave to
mark their territory and communicate with other tigers. Scent marks
may identify a tiger as a neighbor, stranger, potential mate, or
competitor – as well as help form social networks.
Research by Neil Carter, Evan Wilson, and Bhim Gurung, conducted in
Nepal, provides fascinating insights into tiger social networks,
which they found to be largely inconsistent.
In their study, male-female associations or “clusters” of about 3-4
animals, with a male at the center, formed and then dissolved
frequently through the years. Males could be the bridge between
multiple clusters in a social network.
In fact, males were more likely than females to form associations
with other tigers. In the wild, males travel great distances to find
and mate with multiple females, while keeping other males from
accessing females in their territory. Through these movements, males
maintain associations with multiple females, and, importantly,
disperse their genes.
The researchers also found that resident tigers (those who were well
established) were more likely than nonresidents to connect to the
wider network of tigers. And interactions between two tigers were
more frequent if they were of the opposite sex or are both
residents.
All this gives us a picture of wild tiger sociality. But what about
those in captivity, where tigers do not establish their own
territories, search for mates, and interact with a number of other
tigers?
For tigers born in captivity, where instinctive behaviors are often
suppressed (though not eliminated), those who are caged together may
form relationships that would never be seen in the wild. Others make
it very clear they do not wish to socialize with other tigers.
Bigelow
At the ARK 2000 sanctuary, we care for seven tigers. Some of them are housed alone – like Bigelow (above) or Herman (below). Others, like Rosemary and Morris (top of page) share a habitat.
Herman
Housing depends on a tiger’s personal preferences, prior history
with a particular tiger(s), and even relatedness. (PAWS formerly
cared for three sibling tigers, Roy, Kim, and Claire, who all lived
together since they were cubs. They were spayed and neutered.)
Captive tigers cannot be introduced to the wild – where tigers
belong – because they do not have the skills to survive. At PAWS,
our focus is on providing the best life for the tigers in our care,
based on their individual needs.
This includes spacious natural habitats set in nature, with trees,
green foliage, and native vegetation –where tigers can express more
natural behaviors and a greater degree of freedom.
After all, that’s the least we can do for them.
Rosemary and Morris at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary.