Maximum size of prey that a single male lion or tiger can kill

[Roflcopters]

(04-18-2020, 12:53 AM)Ashutosh Wrote: @Pckts, the study you quote says that the average weight of adult gaurs killed by tigers was 737.8 kilos. Does this figure include female gaurs? Because, if it does, it very well proves that tigers prey on gaurs as big as 1000 kilos as simple sexual dimorphism between the weights of male and female gaurs would give you that average figure.

Also, the incident of gaur killing the big male tiger is from kabini and was narrated by Karanth himself. What that part doesn’t tell you is that tiger was a gaur specialist. He killed many gaurs (big ones too) before one finally got him and he was a bit on the obese side apparently.

I think you're talking about Dhasa better known as T-03 as described by him in that book.

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back then i read something like this from that book.

1. T-01 (old tiger, 12-13 years), Wt 230 kg+ (507 lb+). Although the tiger was quite a large animal, he had mortal wounds in a fight with another tiger. Died from wounds.
2. T-02 (prime female). Wt 177 kg (390 lb) Was radiotracked for several years offering great insights into tiger behaviour. She was a huge tigress and ruled for a long time.
3. T-03 (prime male). 257 kg (565 lb) Was radiotracked for two years. Was apparently involved in several battles for territory and lost a large part of range to another male tiger, ended up shifting his range. Was a gaur expert, but ultimately was killed in a fight with a bull gaur.
4. T-04 (3-4 years) Wt 250 kg (550 lb) Lost his radiocollar after 2 months in a battle with another male tiger. The bite penetrated the steel collar and severed it. But T-04 seemed to have won the battle and was seen for a few more years. Also recorded as having committed infanticide (killed 3 cubs of the defeated male).
These weights ignore stomach contents, however.

I came across this back in 2008, 12 years ago from now and I could never understand how such an experienced male would get killed by a Gaur. of course my knowledge was limited back then, now that i think about it. Dhasa/T03 was probably nearing the end of his life and was desperate for food. which ultimately lead to his death. simple law of the jungle, you live by the sword and die by the sword. his favorite prey item ended up being the reason for his death. that was probably one of the first few books that really inspired me to look deep into the tigers and since then, I never really looked back. good old times. my only wish list is to read and hear more from tigers in South India. those are perhaps some of the most prestigious chunk of forests with such density. it's a damn shame we don't get to hear much from Bandipur and Nagarhole. Raja was like the last nail in the coffin before Bandipur literally fell off the map. just my two cents, sorry for hijacking the on-going discussions. Reply