Question

On average, the lifespan of tigers living in zoos is 22 years while the lifespan of tigers in the wild is 17 years. What are two reasons why tigers live longer in the zoo than in the wild?

Answer 1

Hint: The maximum lifespan of the Bengal tigers in the wild is 15-17 years. Very few tigers can cross this mark as they eventually become too weak to hunt larger animals. Bengal tigers hunt sambar, gaur, chital, water buffalo, nilgai, and takin and occasionally kill grey langur and hog deer. They are distributed in subtropical and tropical rainforests, grasslands, scrub forests, mangroves, and wet and dry deciduous forests.

Complete answer:
The main reasons for the longer life of tigers in zoos are as follows:
There is lesser competition for food. There is access to medicine and healthcare.
They are preserved well in zoos with adequate food and a good stay. But in the wild, there is a shortage of food.
Some of the reasons why tigers live long in zoos compared to wild ones are as follows:
In the wild, the tiger has to compete with other predators of the same and different species for food. Also, there is a possibility of not getting food each time. But in the zoo, the food is provided regularly without competition.
In the wild, the tiger is often exposed to privation, disease, and injuries, which take a toll on the longevity and the general health of the tiger. In the zoo, zoological and veterinary care are offered to tigers and the probability of getting injured due to hunting or fighting is drastically mitigated.
With land encroachment and deforestation, the wild habitat offers a less sustainable environment to tigers, when compared to the zoo.
In the wild, the principle of survival of the fittest is applicable. There, weaker animals are weeded out, bringing down the average lifespan of the tiger community. Even weaker tigers can live long due to the provision of healthcare and food in zoos, pushing the average lifespan of tigers.

Note:
In captivity, Bengal tigers can live in the range of 20-22 years.The average lifespan of white tigers is 12 years only and when held captive, they live a little longer. They hunt large herbivorous animals like wild boar, deer, cattle, and goats which feed in the jungle and its outskirts. They are distributed in a wide range of habitats like mangrove swamps, tropical forests, and moist jungles, which support dense vegetation and freshwater.