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

[Apex Titan]

@peter 

As I mentioned in my previous post, Ussuri brown bears roaming the taiga during winter in November or December, doesn't necessarily mean the bear is a 'schatun' in weak condition. I've seen numerous camera trap photos of large and healthy adult Ussuri brown bears walking the forest during the winter months. It all depends on the harvest of food.

During the first snow-falls of winter (November - early December), the bears do not go into hibernation, they continue to accumulate fat for the long winter ahead, and usually go into hibernation around mid December.

Here's a good example of a healthy, well-fed adult Ussuri brown bear in great condition, still roaming the taiga in the winter of November 13, 2023:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XdXvmGlGfi8

A well-fed Ussuri brown bear in winter (Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve):

"It is believed that on December 13, bears finally settle down in their dens for winter hibernation".

Another healthy, well-fed Ussuri brown bear in good shape, roaming the forest in winter (Northeast China):

A non-hibernating Ussuri brown bear in excellent condition in winter: (Sikhote-Alin)

A bear in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve organized a winter disco. The brown bear was caught on surveillance cameras and surprised experts - instead of sleeping peacefully in his den, the clubfoot started "dancing".

https://zhizn.ru/p/5356

 A healthy Ussuri brown bear in good condition roaming the taiga in winter (Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve):

*This image is copyright of its original author

In Primorye, a large and well-fed male Ussuri brown bear did not go into hibernation:

*This image is copyright of its original author

"Now the hunting inspectorate has joined the search for the predator - from the tracks it was possible to determine that the individual was quite large and well-fed."

https://zhizn.ru/p/5734

These are just a few of numerous pictures/videos I've seen of healthy and well-fed Ussuri brown bears still walking the taiga during the winter months.

Its safe to say, that whenever a tiger hunts and kills a non-hibernating brown bear in winter, it doesn't necessarily mean the bear was a 'schatun' in bad condition. Its very likely that the bear was in great condition and well-fed, and plans to hibernate later on. The account of Odyr hunting and killing a non-hibernating, but large, healthy adult male brown bear in late November is a good example of this. 

Also, in general, Amur tigers strongly prefer to hunt and eat healthy, well-fed bears that have gained weight. A skinny, weakened, and underweight 'schatun' brown bear does not make an enticing and calorie-rich meal for a hungry tiger. This is why cases of Amur tigers killing and eating unhealthy 'schatun' brown bears are rare.

In fact, I've never seen a single modern day account (last 35 years) of a tiger killing and eating a 'schatun' brown bear. There are countless modern day cases of Amur tigers hunting and killing adult brown bears, and in all cases, tigers deliberately targeted and killed healthy, well-fed adult brown bears, primarily during the peak seasons - summer and autumn. That says it all. Reply