Modern weights and measurements on wild tigers

[Charger01]

Some large tigers of 21st century.

Over the past year and a half, me as well as others have communicated with many scientists and forest officials from India and nearby countries. A large database for weights of Bengal Tigers has been compiled. Here, I am going to list and make remarks on some of these large tigers that have been documented by scientists and researchers and I have permission to talk about freely. Some of these have been confirmed twice. I will not add direct names of sources to avoid spam.

*(+) sign - exceeded / more than

Following is the list in ascending order:

1. M-125 aka "Madla"
Weight: Exceeded 250 kg scale (adjusted minimum 220-230 kg+)
Age: 8 - 8.5 
Capture date: 12-01-2002
Location: Panna Tiger Reserve
Region: Central India
Remarks: Madla exceeded a scale of 250 kg used by Dr. Raghunandan Chundawat. This included around 10 kg weighing bed and est. 20 - 30 kg food. Minimum empty was estimated to be no less than 220 - 230 kg+

2. T-3 aka "Betal" 
Weight: 240 kg
Age: 10
Capture date: 13-01-2013
Location: Panna Tiger Reserve
Region: Central India
Remarks: This tiger was captured multiple times. The weight was confirmed by Head of Forest Department in an email. 

3. M-91 aka "Old King" 
Weight: Exceeded 250 kg scale (adjusted 240 kg+)
Age: 6 - 6.5
Capture date: 11-04-1996
Location: Panna Tiger Reserve
Region: Central India
Remarks: After recovering, he regurgitated the food he had eaten before being darted. To eyes, M-91 appeared fully gorged with 25 - 30 kg meat but the amount in vomit was only 19 kg thus adjusted to 240 kg+ empty 


4. MT-3 
Weight: 243 kg 
Age: 4
Capture date: March of 2020
Location: Mukundra Tiger Reserve
Region: Central-Western India
Remarks: Originally from Ranthambore, he was darted after a maggot infection in his face which hindered him from hunting. A few months later, he died due to illness and it was found he lost over 52 kg in this period.


5. T-04 aka "Mara" 
Weight: 250 kg (empty or near empty?)
Age: 2 - 3
Capture date: 29-01-1990
Location: Nagarahole National Park
Region: Southern India
Remarks: A young tiger that was attracted to bait but captured within 10 mins of taking it. 


6. Unknown 
Weight: 250 kg empty
Age: Adult
Capture date: 2008
Location: Tezpur (near Kaziranga)
Region: North-Eastern India
Remarks: A very large (long and tall) tiger that was rescued after being stuck in a well after annual floods in the region. 


7. Unknown
Weight: 250 kg empty
Age: Adult
Capture date: 17-06-2021
Location: Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Region: Terai Arc
Remarks: This problem tiger was causing chaos in a village near Valmiki Tiger Reserve. He was said to be hungry for 4-5 days


8. Unknown 
Weight: 250 kg+
Age: 6 - 7
Capture date: 28-06-2022
Location: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
Region: Terai Arc
Remarks: This tiger was accidently captured in a trap set up for another tiger. A "highly reliable" source confirmed this tiger weighed more than 250 kg. 


9. T-24 aka "Ustad" 
Weight: 240 kg / 258 kg empty
Age: 3 / 9
Capture date: 2009 / 16-05-2015
Location: Ranthambore National Park
Region: Central - Western India 
Remarks: Ustad was moved to zoo for alleged attacks on humans. 


10. "Poochkata" 
Weight: 285 kg gorged (adjusted 255 kg)
Age: Adult
Capture date: Unknown
Location: Kanha Tiger Reserve
Region: Central India
Remarks: Weighed by Dr. Jhala of Wildlife Institute of India. He was gorged at the time of capture so adjusted value for 30 kg meat, resulting in c. 255 kg empty. 

11. Unknown
Weight: 260 kg 
Age: Adult
Capture date: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Region: Central India
Remarks: In the paper, "Field Guide for Ageing Tigers" by Dr. Jhala, a range of adult tiger weights is given as 200 - 260 kg and Dr. Jhala's unpublished data is quoted. This leads me to believe that this 260 kg tiger is an individual tiger, although I could be wrong. 

12. Unknown
Weight: 280 kg (adjusted 260 kg)
Age: Adult
Capture date: Unknown
Location: Ranthambore National Park
Region: Central-Western India
Remarks: Large tiger that had recently eaten before being weighed. So adjusted value for 20 kg meat, resulting in c. 260 kg empty.


13. Unknown 
Weight: 280 kg (adjusted 270 - 280 kg)
Age: Could be a young adult or adult
Capture date: Unknown
Location: -
Region: Central India
Remarks: The source could not comment on if the tiger was empty but confirmed that it was 100% not gorged, meaning the tiger had nothing noticeable amount food in him (little to non). Hence I adjust for 10 kg or less than 10 kg food, resulting in c. 270 kg+ empty, making him one of the biggest felids. 


14. M-126 
Weight: Exceeded scale of 272 kg 
Age: Adult
Capture date: 1984
Location: Chitwan National Park
Region: Terai Arc
Remarks: A large tiger captured by Dr. Dinerstein and his team in 1984. The tiger exceeded a weighing scale of 272 kg. 


15. M-105 aka "Sauraha" 
Weight: Exceeded scale of 272 kg
Age: 11
Capture date: 1980
Location: Chitwan National Park
Region: Terai Arc
Remarks: One of the largest tigers of all time, Sauraha exceeded a scale of 272 kg on his 4th capture. As the researchers who captured him described, he was a walking hunk of rippling muscle without an ounce of fat. Reply