DNA Reveals the Origin Stories of America’s Captive Tigers
In 2020, the Netflix documentary series “Tiger King” introduced the world to America’s large population of captive tigers. Estimates by experts suggest there may be as many as 7,000 of the big cats in the United States today, while only around 5,500 tigers survive in the wild in other countries.
More than 99 percent of those American tigers live in unaccredited roadside zoos, private residences or sanctuaries. Conservationists have long wondered what types of tigers make up this population and whether their genetic material could help increase the number of tigers in the wild.
A group of scientists recently examined the DNA of America’s captive tigers for the first time and discovered their muddled origin stories. Based on their findings, the researchers showed that these animals would be of little use to conservation.
In a study published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists sequenced the genomes of 138 tigers rescued from private ownership, including two once owned by Joe Exotic, the main subject of “Tiger King.”
