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

[peter]

TIGERS IN NORTHERN INDIA AND NEPAL - PART VI


a - Tables

In November last year, I posted on tigers in northern India and Nepal. In spite of the title of these posts, the focus was on Nepal. A lengthy and somewhat one-sided introduction, one could say. I agree. The reason was I had just finished the book of Smythies ('Big game shooting in Nepal', Calcutta, 1942). 

In the previous posts, I wrote I would inform you on the size of Nepal tigers. I could have opted for a few scans, but decided against it. The reason is I want to prevent selection. As I want to do it in the correct way, I had no other option but to record the measurements of all tigers shot in Nepal. Than tables had to be made.

Most, if not nearly all, tables on big cat size are about averages and range. As a reader, you have no other option but to trust the one who made the table. I don't know about you, but I prefer tables with individuals. The reason is I get than the opportunity to go over things myself. This, however, means that the one doing the tables has no option but to invest a lot of time. 

When I had finished, Nepal tigers had to be compared to tigers in other regions. In order to do so, one needs similar tables based on similar samples. You also need tigers measured in the same way as in Nepal. It was fortunate that they were in regions not that far away (northern and northeastern India). This meant the work I did for Nepal had to be repeated. 

To keep a long story short. I made it. When I was done, I left it for some days. The reason is I know that most tables will have invisible mistakes, no matter no hard you try. I wasn't disappointed a few days later, when I went over them again. I needed more than one day to correct the mistakes. 

I'm now ready to post and discuss them. Remember that it is very likely that the tables have more mistakes. The reason is mistakes and humans are just too close. If you see mistakes or have questions, please don't hesitate to tell me. It is about the result in the end: we need reliable tables to start a debate.

One more thing. I do not doubt that the tables I will post will be used elsewhere. I don't mind. The moment you post information on a forum, it is in the public domain. This (free exchange of information) is the good thing about the internet. However. I want those who use the tables to be fair and say the tables were made for and first posted on WildFact. Reply