ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

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Amur tiger vs Ussuri brown bear - Fights & Outcomes

When an adult male tiger and adult male brown bear fight, often these battles are fierce, prolonged and close to unpredictable, both are very powerful animals that are capable of killing each other. However, despite the risks, these animals do clash and fight from time to time, whether over a kill-dispute or when a tiger deliberately attacks a brown bear when hunting it. When reviewing all the fight statistics, accounts and testimonies from experienced biologists, zoologists, naturalists, hunters and locals, it shows that the tiger is the usual winner against a brown bear in a fight.

Often fight statistics don't mention details about either animals gender, age or condition. But there's also no doubt, that male tigers and male brown bears do fight from time to time, based on reliable information and testimonies from expert authorities, as well as local hunters.

According to scientific literature, ( studies ) there are no fully detailed accounts of fights between adult male tigers and adult male brown bears, however, there is reliable information that comes close to that and indicates who wins more often than not between adult males of both species.

On average male Ussuri brown bears are heavier and more robust than male tigers, but male tigers are of similar size and also much faster, explosively powerful, more agile, more lethally armed for killing ( much larger and thicker canines, razor-sharp dexterous claws ), have stronger bite force and are far more adept and experienced killers. The largest male Ussuri brown bears weighing 400 - 600 kg would be stronger ( referring to brute strength, not power ) than male tigers. The tiger is more powerful and explosive though.

This is basically a match between weight, robustness and brute strength ( male brown bears ) vs speed, power, weaponry, agility, experience and killing skills. ( tigers ) An epic match-up that can go either way, but the question is, who usually wins? ....

The best and most reliable way to get to some kind of conclusion is to refer to the experienced Russian experts, biologists and local hunters.

Most of the following information is recent evidence I found. Old fight statistics that have been debated and discussed countless times on other forums will not be included in this post.

So what happens when these two titans clash?

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Sergei Kucherenko - Tigers vs Very large male Brown bears

Kucherenko, ( A well-known Russian biologist, scientist & expert on predatory animals of the Ussuri taiga ) reported that in fights between tigers and very large brown bears, these battles are bloody, fierce and dangerous to both animals, but more often the tiger wins:

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https://www.m24.ru/articles/lekcii/05052014/42860


Originally reported in his book here:  In addition....

Kucherenko also notes that in a fight against a brown bear, the tigers aim is to finish the fight as quickly as possible because it "fizzles out" ( loses stamina ) quicker than the more "hardy" bear. The longer the fight goes on, the more chances the bear gets. But from the evidence, statistics and his testimony, tigers, more often than not are able to kill a huge brown bear in a fight before the tiger tires out.

http://animalkingdom.su/books/item/f00/s...t012.shtml



RUSSIAN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT / REPORTER 'MK' 

Russian reporter 'MK' took part in an investigation and hunt with leading Amur tiger expert 'Pavel Fomenko'. In his report, he stated that Amur tigers fight with adult bears and almost always win. One tiger killed a bear and dragged its carcass for several kilometers:

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://www.mk.ru/social/2014/12/18/v-kh...00-kg.html



American Naturalist, Joseph Kullman's Research on Animal Fights

"American naturalist 'Joseph Kullmann' set out to find out who is the best in the animal world. He studies all cases of one-on-one fights and identifies features that help to win. Some of the stories included in the book, we bring to your attention."

According to his research and sources, hunters of the Primorsky Territory talk about the fights between tigers and brown bears, in which tigers usually win, and not only more often defeat brown bears in fights but also specifically hunt "clubfoot" brown bears.

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https://www.eg.ru/society/15083/



MOSCOW SOCIETY OF NATURALISTS

Referring to fights between tigers and brown bears:

"The outcome of the struggle is often decided in favor of the tiger, but cases when the bear managed to kill the enemy are also known."

https://www.google.com/search?safe=stric...CSDeRl8k0g


JOHN VAILLANT - AMUR TIGER VS BROWN BEAR

Many people are already aware of John Vaillants account on tigers and bears, although this is not new info, what he stated is interesting and shows how vindictive and aggressive Amur tigers are towards brown bears and the risks tigers are willing to regularly take by attacking and killing a dangerous opponent such as a brown bear.

Vaillant traveled to the Russian far east and interviewed many experts, biologists, zoologists, naturalists, hunters, rangers and locals. His statements are based on first-hand info from experts he interviewed, as stated in his book:

"This is a book about Russians and their tigers, and much of the information in it comes from Russian sources, including many interviews."

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=WGvV...gqTB-d&sig=


According to biologists, hunters and natives, Amur tigers sometimes pick fights with brown bears and brutally kill the bears to the point of tearing the bear apart, limb from limb, and scattering its appendages across the battle ground. Such scenes and descriptions go a long way to explaining why the indigenous peoples of the Amur-Ussuri region, refer to the tiger - not the brown bear - as the "Czar of the forest" aka "Lord of the taiga."

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://books.google.co.uk/books?dq=lev+...2&sa=X&sig=

*This image is copyright of its original author

Amur tiger vs Brown bear - Recent Opinions of Russian Experts and Specialists

Recently ( 2020 ) Russian experts and biologists from the 'Amur Tiger Center' gave their take on a fight between a tiger and huge male brown bear weighing 400 - 600 kg. According to the experts opinions, a large male tiger would likely kill any brown bear, no matter how big, in a fight.

Here's the experts statement:

"An adult brown bear is far more massive than the Siberian tiger. It can reach 400, 500, sometimes 600 kg in weight. Tigers do not grow to this size, but they compensate for their lower weight with more developed hunting skills. In other words, a tiger knows better how and where to bite to kill it’s prey. Both predators seem to realize each other’s strength and prefer to keep armed neutrality. Conflicts happen when a hungry bear tries to take the food away from the tiger. Or if one of the opponents realizes his superiority."
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"And what if a conflict is inevitable? Specialists have collected some data: about half of the fights end up with deadly wounds for both predators. Other fights end equally with the tiger's or bear's victory."
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"Result of a brawl depends on the size and weight of animals. A large bear has more chances against a tigress or a small tiger. Large adult male tiger is likely to win against any bear."

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9WE1B0IvUq/...e=ig_embed

https://livebir.ru/siela-miedviedia-i/


A news website from Russia ( RUSSIA BEYOND ) recently published an article on the topic of a fight between a tiger and a Brown bear. And who wins. 

General director of the Amur tiger center, Sergey Aramilev was also interviewed on the subject. Here's his take....

Interestingly, according to Aramilev, a fight between a very large male brown bear and tigress or small tiger ( young tiger ) is an equal fight, or even slightly in favor of the bear. An adult male tiger would kill a very large male brown bear in a fight. Naturalists also favor the tiger over a huge male brown bear in a fight, due to the fact that tigers are accustomed to killing. i.e. A far more skilled and experienced killer.

Russian zoologist, Timofei Bazhenov also stated: “I am often asked: If a tiger met a brown bear in the taiga, who would win? As a rule, the tiger."

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/331578-fi...er-grizzly



Yuri Dunishenko - Amur tiger vs Brown bear

Dunishenko, a senior researcher, biologist and specialist on Amur tiger ecology, in his new book: "Amur tiger - the Uncrowned Lord of the Taiga" gave his take on a fight between a tiger and very large brown bear.

His statement:

"A tough showdown happens extremely rarely: when a "buryak" (brown bear), who believes in his impunity, tries to take away prey from a more successful hunter."

"There is a lot of blood and wool at the site of the fight. The outcome of the fight is largely determined by the size and weight of the animals. A very large bear has more chances against a tigress or a small tiger. When meeting with a large adult tiger, the bear already has less chances."

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Dunishenko also notes that fights happen rarely because usually tigers just growl, and animals get frightened and the problems over:

"As for the forest animal, the tiger has such neighbours, there are no special problems. The king, he is the king - growled and the incident was over."

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://amur-tiger.ru/data/files/files/am...ressed.pdf



According to WWF Russia, brown bears usually don't survive in fights against young, inexperienced tigers and tigresses:

These brown bears can be as big and heavy as Amur tigers. And the tiger knows that the bear is his only real enemy in the forest. Young inexperienced tiger or tigress may die in the fight with the bear, but usually the bear also does not survive the struggle. So why do they fight? Tigress has to defend the cubs from the enemy, and the young tiger fights for the land and the right to be the master of it."

http://en.tigerstrail.ru/at-first-hand/



Fights & Interactions at kill-sites - Outcomes

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Tigers and brown bears fight over kill-disputes sometimes, these battles can be very fierce and violent. But what usually happens when an adult tiger encounters an adult brown bear at a kill- site?  

Russian biologist, Matyushkin ( Who studied tigers and bears in the wild for several decades ) personally informed German zoologist, Bernhard Grzimek that when adult tigers encounter brown bears at kill-sites, the bear almost always surrenders its meal to the tiger. 

Grzimek notes, that before Matyushkin told him that, he would have bet his money on the brown bear, but changed his mind after Matyushkin told him that.

"Apart from humans, the Amur tiger has no enemies that could pose a threat to it. At the very most, a few unsupervised young animals might fall victim to the brown bear. When adult tigers encounter bears, surprisingly, Matyushkin reported, the bear almost always surrenders its meal to the tiger."..

"Before he told me that, I would have bet my money on the bear, but he followed tiger tracks on ski's for several winters, and he should know."

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Matyushkin's observations could explain why modern scientific research ( Seryodkin, Miquelle, Kerley, Goodrich, Petrunenko ) have never found or reported a single case in the past 25+ years, of a large male brown bear contesting or usurping the kill of an adult male tiger at a kill-site. In fact, all the evidence and research shows that big male brown bears specifically ( Occasionally ) target only tigresses with cubs and strictly avoid adult male tigers. In general, (most cases) bears wait for the tigress to finish eating and leave before scavenging the left-overs of the kill.

So do adult male brown bears back down and surrender their meal to adult male tigers at kill-sites?  According to Matyushkin's observations, it seems they do.

Grzimek's statement is clearly not referring to tigresses vs brown bears or male tigers vs female brown bears at kill-sites. He specifically states that before Matyushkin told him that, he would have backed the bear, which indicates that he's referring to adult male brown bears against tigers.


In the book: "Tigers in the Snow", Matthiessen states: "Bears prefer to contest the much smaller female tigers, lest it become an item of tiger diet."

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://archive.org/details/tigersinsnow...f+the+snow


This statement is confirmed by modern scientific research and studies which show that brown bears, large males in particular, contest only smaller female tigers and avoid male tigers due to the high risk of being killed and eaten by the male tiger. According to Russian biologist 'Alexander Batalov' the huge male brown bear "Chlamida" was killed and eaten in a similar scenario by the male tiger "Ochkarik".

But its important to remember, although male tigers win most fights against large male brown bears, the outcome of these battles does vary depending on the situation and individuals involved. A large male brown bear is a powerful foe for any tiger, so the tiger won't always win.

According to this source, the outcome of a fight between a tiger and large brown bear varies:

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Fights to the death between these two large formidable predators happens rarely, both animals know the risks ( referring to adult males of both species ) and simply prefer to avoid such a dangerous and risky collision. But when serious fights do happen, the evidence and reliable information strongly indicates that tigers win most fights against adult male brown bears.

John Vaillant's statement, which is based on what experts told him, also suggests that male tigers sometimes attack and kill similar-sized adult male brown bears solely on principle. 

It seems like killing skill, experience, speed, power and weaponry usually overcomes size and robustness.



CONCLUSIONS & SUMMARY BASED ON EVIDENCE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION:

1) Although the outcome of a fight between a tiger and large male brown bear varies, the evidence consistently shows that tigers are more often the winner in this battle.

2) According to Kucherenko's observations & experience, the tiger is more often the winner in a fight against very large male brown bears. He also noted that the "average tiger is always stronger than the average ( brown ) bear."

3) Most Russian experts, biologists and naturalists favor the tiger over a very large male brown bear in a fight. The large male bear stands a better chance against a tigress or small (young) tiger. ( Dunishenko, Aramilev )

4) Primorsky hunters report that tigers are the usual winners in fights against brown bears, and also hunt brown bears.

5) To the natives & locals, the tiger is the superior beast and they often come across remains of brown bears killed, eaten and torn apart by tigers.

6) According to experts and specialists, the tiger being a more adept killer gives it the edge in a fight against a huge male brown bear, which compensates for the size difference.

7) All the fight statistics, although often lacking details, favor the tiger. Some statistics ( Rukovsky ) show that the tiger dominated the brown bear in fights.

8) Young, inexperienced tigers and tigresses may die in a fight with a brown bear, but usually the bear also doesn't survive the struggle.

9) According to biologist Matyushkin's observations, brown bears almost always surrender their meals to adult tigers at kill-sites.

10) Full-grown adult males of both species usually avoid serious fights with each other.

Note: This is a summary of the recent info I found on tiger and brown bear conflicts. I never found any evidence that indicates that the brown bear would be the usual winner in a fight against a tiger. No fight statistics either. Expert opinions / testimonies, accounts and fight statistics are overwhelmingly in the tigers favor.

To be continued - Tiger predation on Bears in Russia coming up...... Reply