In all my years as a naturalist in India, I have realized that tigers are prolific breeders. Their life cycle is fine tuned to an extent reaching biological perfection only seen among the wild species and certainly not among humans and their livestock.
Long time back in the forests of Kundam Range near Jabalpur in MP, I stayed awake listening to the mating cries of tiger pair from the Rest House at Kundwara. Aaaaaaaaaaoooooooooon!Aaaaaaaaaaaaooooooon!
Having seen them earlier it was a dream come true to hear this magical sound. The big cats were breeding in a badly denuded ecosystem outside a protected area.
Having seen them earlier it was a dream come true to hear this magical sound. The big cats were breeding in a badly denuded ecosystem outside a protected area.
Working as a naturalist, I had learned to recognize some sounds emitted by the big cats few among a mind boggling repertoire. Sleep took over amidst feeling of extreme euphoria naturally!
I have not been to the forests of Kundam again and do not know the state of conservation of these big cats in an area not at all under strict protect and subject to poaching and pilferage. A visit will certainly enlighten you as regards the deprecation of forests on Central Indian Highlands.
The breeding pair would have certainly mated and given birth to young ones. Unfortunately no news percolates about the status of reserved forests outside the PA or the popular tiger reserves/National Parks.
This vast stretch of forests is home to a small prey base, few reptiles like the marsh crocodile and plenty of livestock. It does not form a perfect corridor anywhere since a large number of human settlements have creeped in since ages. Now the urbanization is taking a heavy toll and in few years perhaps only remnants would be found as evidence of once intact ecosystem.
The nightly incidence was an eyeopener how the big cats find each other for mating otherwise solitary. The other means of location is spraying of pheroharmone especially among dense populations like in some of our reserves. Sound is a greater facilitating factor among sparse populations. But these could be a giveaway to poachers.
I have not been to the forests of Kundam again and do not know the state of conservation of these big cats in an area not at all under strict protect and subject to poaching and pilferage. A visit will certainly enlighten you as regards the deprecation of forests on Central Indian Highlands.
The breeding pair would have certainly mated and given birth to young ones. Unfortunately no news percolates about the status of reserved forests outside the PA or the popular tiger reserves/National Parks.
This vast stretch of forests is home to a small prey base, few reptiles like the marsh crocodile and plenty of livestock. It does not form a perfect corridor anywhere since a large number of human settlements have creeped in since ages. Now the urbanization is taking a heavy toll and in few years perhaps only remnants would be found as evidence of once intact ecosystem.
The nightly incidence was an eyeopener how the big cats find each other for mating otherwise solitary. The other means of location is spraying of pheroharmone especially among dense populations like in some of our reserves. Sound is a greater facilitating factor among sparse populations. But these could be a giveaway to poachers.
Another meeting point among the cats separated by a large distance is search for water where they can congregate in summer. Unfortunately most of the water bodies are surrounded by human settlements and hence are completely out of reach or only accessible during the night. Hence all forests in India should comprise of an inviolate core however small out of reach of humans but this is wishful thinking.
The big cats usually start breeding whence they become adults. Females are ready at the age of two and half years and the males whence nearing their fourth year. The males can breed easily by the time they reach their fourth year or earlier depending whence they have ousted the dominant male there. They are at their peak strength at four years and can manage to dislodge a ruling male. And this is usually a violent take over with the killing of cubs sired by the earlier male. This hence brings the cub survival rate down by fifty percent in the protected areas.
The big cats usually start breeding whence they become adults. Females are ready at the age of two and half years and the males whence nearing their fourth year. The males can breed easily by the time they reach their fourth year or earlier depending whence they have ousted the dominant male there. They are at their peak strength at four years and can manage to dislodge a ruling male. And this is usually a violent take over with the killing of cubs sired by the earlier male. This hence brings the cub survival rate down by fifty percent in the protected areas.
In areas outside the PAs with few intruding males survival could be hundred percent but then we have to take into account lack of prey base, limited area and constant threats from humans as a limiting factor. This can have a negative impact on breeding.
The worst threat for these predators in unprotected areas is due to man animal conflict whence the cattle killed by them is often poisoned. A livestock kill is also a giveaway as an evidence of presence of the big cats in the neighboring settlements. In modern times we have increased intolerance for the predators. The consternation leads to translocation or killing of the animal for example sometimes leopards are mauled by large gatherings out of fear.
Mating is a noisy affair and rarely witnessed since the couple move into dense confines to avoid disturbance. The gestation period is of ninety days on the average.
The female during the estrous would mate with the dominant male but then she could be mating with intruders as well in order to achieve the best genes. Polygamy also insures greater safety for the progeny as other males take the cubs to be carrying their gene.
Even when the female is with growing cubs she can falsely lead the intruding male away or go in for false mating in forced circumstances where in conception does not take place.
But young cubs from a dominant male are usually killed on encounter with an intruder whence he manages to creep in. It is up to the capability of the mother to save as many as she can. Males are stronger and can overpower females on many occasions. They have been found to kill females not willing to mate or whence defending their cubs. The dead are consumed not because of being cannibals but due to the fact that in the wild no valuable protein is left to rot!
The litter size is of four cubs but two or more can also be the case but rarely. From three months onward the cubs start moving along with their mother as it is a learning phase. They have now started to eat meat and quickly learn the purpose of their existence at the top of the food chain.
Learning is in phases. They become familiar about the terrain as they move along and then the mock fighting begins eventually learning to hunt after one year as spectators. In very late stage they learn to kill a badly mauled fawn or a small wild boar etc. Following this they eventually learn to kill by the time they have to separate from their mother two year onwards.
After separation the cubs form a group as they have still not mastered the art of hunting hence kill together. They linger on in their mother's territory or adjacent forest protected by the male who has sired them. But as they become confident separation is evident.
Female make their territory with the mother's space on in nearby confines. The males move further and are constantly in process of creating their own space in areas with sparse population of their brethren. Using chemical signals they carve out a space with very little presence of a foreign intruder.
In Kanha empty spaces are filled by young males using chemical signals till they are about four years and at the peak of their strength. They rarely challenge their father and the conflict is usually with a male in the area they have been pushed into.
Territory take over is a constant process but rarely based on impulse. An impulsive move usually leads to death at the hands of the dominant and experienced male. In order to avoid bloodshed, detrimental to healthy population, often males are seen in the same area avoiding conflict using their spacing instincts. Presence of many males in a given area assures conception perhaps with the best gene.
A new territory takeover is announced by extensive vocalization. A hold on territory is usually for four years or more but by this time sidelining of dominant aging males is evident.
An exceptional hold on territories was held by legendary Munna male who successfully moved to takeover adjoining areas whence dominated in erstwhile territory. He ruled over parts of Kanha core for perhaps sixteen years before being finally relegated to the buffer. He is now in Bhopal Zoo. He is perhaps the oldest living Bengal tiger in the wild in India.
Conflict is not deadly on the first instance but usually begins with a roaring match if that does not settle the matter a push and pull plus sparing has been observed. This will usually mark out who the boss is and if not the fight to death occurs usually by serious injuries or sometimes a straight kill. A young male tiger was killed by a dominant upon intrusion. The fight was supposed to have raged over night and the young male was eventually killed and eaten.
================
Uday works as a naturalist in Central India and also loves to write on tiger reserves and conservation.
He also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He organizes summer classes in Digital Marketing in Jabalpur his hometown.
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mob: 09755089323
The worst threat for these predators in unprotected areas is due to man animal conflict whence the cattle killed by them is often poisoned. A livestock kill is also a giveaway as an evidence of presence of the big cats in the neighboring settlements. In modern times we have increased intolerance for the predators. The consternation leads to translocation or killing of the animal for example sometimes leopards are mauled by large gatherings out of fear.
Mating is a noisy affair and rarely witnessed since the couple move into dense confines to avoid disturbance. The gestation period is of ninety days on the average.
The female during the estrous would mate with the dominant male but then she could be mating with intruders as well in order to achieve the best genes. Polygamy also insures greater safety for the progeny as other males take the cubs to be carrying their gene.
Even when the female is with growing cubs she can falsely lead the intruding male away or go in for false mating in forced circumstances where in conception does not take place.
But young cubs from a dominant male are usually killed on encounter with an intruder whence he manages to creep in. It is up to the capability of the mother to save as many as she can. Males are stronger and can overpower females on many occasions. They have been found to kill females not willing to mate or whence defending their cubs. The dead are consumed not because of being cannibals but due to the fact that in the wild no valuable protein is left to rot!
The litter size is of four cubs but two or more can also be the case but rarely. From three months onward the cubs start moving along with their mother as it is a learning phase. They have now started to eat meat and quickly learn the purpose of their existence at the top of the food chain.
Learning is in phases. They become familiar about the terrain as they move along and then the mock fighting begins eventually learning to hunt after one year as spectators. In very late stage they learn to kill a badly mauled fawn or a small wild boar etc. Following this they eventually learn to kill by the time they have to separate from their mother two year onwards.
After separation the cubs form a group as they have still not mastered the art of hunting hence kill together. They linger on in their mother's territory or adjacent forest protected by the male who has sired them. But as they become confident separation is evident.
Female make their territory with the mother's space on in nearby confines. The males move further and are constantly in process of creating their own space in areas with sparse population of their brethren. Using chemical signals they carve out a space with very little presence of a foreign intruder.
In Kanha empty spaces are filled by young males using chemical signals till they are about four years and at the peak of their strength. They rarely challenge their father and the conflict is usually with a male in the area they have been pushed into.
Territory take over is a constant process but rarely based on impulse. An impulsive move usually leads to death at the hands of the dominant and experienced male. In order to avoid bloodshed, detrimental to healthy population, often males are seen in the same area avoiding conflict using their spacing instincts. Presence of many males in a given area assures conception perhaps with the best gene.
A new territory takeover is announced by extensive vocalization. A hold on territory is usually for four years or more but by this time sidelining of dominant aging males is evident.
An exceptional hold on territories was held by legendary Munna male who successfully moved to takeover adjoining areas whence dominated in erstwhile territory. He ruled over parts of Kanha core for perhaps sixteen years before being finally relegated to the buffer. He is now in Bhopal Zoo. He is perhaps the oldest living Bengal tiger in the wild in India.
Conflict is not deadly on the first instance but usually begins with a roaring match if that does not settle the matter a push and pull plus sparing has been observed. This will usually mark out who the boss is and if not the fight to death occurs usually by serious injuries or sometimes a straight kill. A young male tiger was killed by a dominant upon intrusion. The fight was supposed to have raged over night and the young male was eventually killed and eaten.
================
Uday works as a naturalist in Central India and also loves to write on tiger reserves and conservation.
He also provides SEO Services and Website Content in English. He organizes summer classes in Digital Marketing in Jabalpur his hometown.
Contact: pateluday90@hotmail.com
Mob: 09755089323
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