An Evaluation Of Exercise Pen Use By Circus Tigers (Pathera Tigris Tigris)

In this study circus tigers were given access to an exercise pen while on tour in California and their behavior observed. Not surprisingly, these big cats made use of the pen, particularly during the day. Also, not surprisingly however is that access to the pen did not eliminate their stereotypic pacing and the tigers spent over half their time in the pen lying down.

“This study quantified the behavior of 11 tigers during periodic access to an exercise pen throughout the day and night. The study determined the amount of time spent in the pen and the percentage of time spent performing stereotypic pacing, normal locomotor behavior, and lying down while in the pen. Average access to the exercise pen was 10 hr 49 min overnight and 5 hr 30 min during the day. At night, the tigers spent 29.1% of their time in the exercise pen, during which they paced 19.6% and performed normal locomotor behavior for 23.1% of that time. By day, they spent 40.4% of their time in the exercise pen, during which they paced 10.0% and performed normal locomotor behavior 35.7% of that time. The tigers spent the rest of the time in the pen lying down. Overall, tigers will utilize an exercise pen, spending a greater percentage of time in the pen during the day than at night and also performing less stereotyped pacing than at night.”