Tiger Predation

[WildWarlord]

(11-05-2024, 07:29 PM)Apex Titan Wrote:

(11-05-2024, 04:34 AM)WildWarlord Wrote: TIGER SCARES SALTWATER CROCODILE



"Tiger-crocodile encounter in Sundarbans. This picture was caught by a tourist's camera. A tiger comes out of the thicket of the Hetal forest. The crocodile was lying on the grass. Seeing the tiger, the crocodile quickly went down to the creek. The Royal Bengal Tiger, however, saw the crocodile entering the water and did not dare to step there. After observing the area from the bank for some time, the tiger returned to the forest."

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://bengali.abplive.com/photo-galler...tos-802483

@Apex Titan Was Correct. Both tigers and Salties avoid each other. But Salties avoid tigers more than Tigers avoid Salties.

Interesting account. Nice find.

According to the biologists, researchers, and locals who work in the Sunderbans, the tiger is the absolute top apex predator of the entire Sunderbans ecosystem, occupying the highest position in the food-web, even above the saltwater crocodile.

@Apex Titan 

Yes. I read and posted those studies of those researchers on Your forum already. 
But yes, tigers will avoid confrontation with Saltie in water, cuz they are extremely intelligent and know that they are at huge disadvantage, and retreat to the 
land nearby. But if they are in deep water/ far from solid land and Saltie attacks them, they will fight very well and even free themselves/ fend off the crocodile ( Like in 2008, an 11 year old tiger was attacked by a territorial saltie, but despite being injured badly, he still managed to free himself and get to the land). 



I know of some local sundarban photographers on  facebook saying that its often observed that tigers snarl at Saltie, signalling him to move away before they dive in water.

I contacted J.K. Mallick on gmail recently. He told me there are observations of tigers doing predatory attacks on salties. Upon further enquiry, he said they were healthy adults. He also told me that tiger can win over saltie on land or low water. But he favours Saltie in deep water. He also said that Saltie wont always attack tiger due to risk of injuries. Ahh yes, he also said that anyone can win in water ( implying that tiger can still injure the saltie inside its own element).

Bro my one friend contacted Subrat Mukherjee. He was Field Director of Sundarbans during 2008-2012. He says both avoid each other in water. He also says tigers and salties are equally top aquatic predators. He showed him account from Dr Sanyal, Subrat agrees with the account. Reply