Felids Interactions - Intraspecific Conflicts

[Pckts]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...s?from=mdr
ff big males from 1-year-old cubs by mating with them
Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Jun 27, 2016, 03.47 PM IST



Highlights

1. Tigresses only desert their cubs when they are around 17-24 months.
2. But Maya, the popular tigress of Pandharpaoni in TATR, has 'deserted' her three one-year-old cubs.
3. She mates with big males to keep them away from her sub-adult cubs. Maya’s three cubs — 2 male and a female — have become elusive now.
   

*This image is copyright of its original author

Nagpur: The rule among tigers, say scientists and wildlife experts, is that tigresses are very caring and only desert their cubs when they are around 17-24 months, and able to take care of themselves. However, Maya, the popular tigress of Pandharpaoni in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), has 'deserted' her three one-year-old cubs. She is even mating with big males coming into her area, to keep them away from her sub-adult cubs, who may be harmed by the other males. Maya's three cubs — 2 male and a female — were regularly sighted by tourists from March till June 10 near Pandharpaoni. However, the cubs have become elusive since Maya had run-ins with some male tigers in her territory.

There were rumours that the Matkasur male had attacked one male cub of Maya. Naturalist Himanshu Bagde had sighted Matkasur trailing Maya on June 10 from waterhole number 97. When he reached Pandharpaoni, Matkasur had charged at one of the cubs, and since then the cubs were not seen.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Later, Maya was sighted with another male, Gabbar, at waterhole 97, where Matkasur and Gabbar had a fight. Matkasur conceded defeat and moved to Kosekanar area. Now, for the past four days, Maya has been mating with Gabbar. Tourists have pictures and videos of these encounters.

Officials, wildlife experts and tourists are baffled with Maya's unusual behaviour. "All I can say is that it is evident there is so much that we don't know about the social behaviour of tigers. This is why long-term field studies are absolutely essential," said Shekar Dattari, wildlife film-maker.

*This image is copyright of its original author

CCF & field director of TATR GP Garad says, "There are always exceptions and this needs further research. But let me tell you, all the three cubs are safe. One male has already separated and one male and female are moving together. We were worried and were even thinking of feeding them but were told not to intervene."

However, Garad said the cubs have killed a barking deer, chital and a monkey too recently. The cubs, though, may not be able to kill large mammals. "We are closely monitoring the entire episode. I suspect mating of Maya is fake, to protect her cubs," he added.

Bilal Habib, scientist with Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, said though it may sound unusual, areas having high tiger density are witnessing such incidents. "Maya's territory overlaps with four males. Mating with them is the best strategy she adopted to save cubs. Had Maya been defiant, she and her cubs could have been either harmed or killed by the other males," says Habib.

Habib believes that Maya would mate with the males but at the same time would come to meet her cubs, stay with them and even hunt for them. "Even if Maya mates, considering the gestation period of 90-120 days, her cubs will be independent by that time. The males are bigger in size and will have to move out a little early." he added.

*This image is copyright of its original author

However, the same episode has not been repeated in Umred-Karhandla sanctuary since there was one male Jai, who knew that he was the father of all these cubs.

"In Tadoba, this may be usual as last year a 16-month-old male had dispersed from Kolsa and was recorded at New Nagzira on January 17, 2016. It travelled 140km. As the incident has happened in tourism zone, it came to light," says state wildlife board member Bandu Dhotre.

However, the same logic doesn't hold ground for buffer areas, where tigers like Big Daddy or Waghdoh male are very protective of their female and cubs. The male with tigress Aishwarya and three cubs were regularly sighted this summer in Dewada buffer zone outside Tadoba. "This is because Wagdoh male knows the cubs belong to him. This was true in the case of Telia tiger sisters earlier," says Habib.

Hence, in buffer, a cub stays for more time with his parents and gets perfect training. Contrary to this, in core, probability of survival is less. The best example is of a dispersing male of Tadoba's Chhoti Tara. It was killed by another male in April.

However, conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar blamed it on excessive tourism. "It looks as if you are sighting tigers in an open zoo. Due to mobbing of tigers, their natural life-cycle has changed completely," he added.

How Drama Unfolded

* Maya, 3 cubs were star attraction at Pandharpaoni from March till June 10

* One of the male cubs was charged by Matkasur male, who was pursuing Maya, on June 10

* From June 10, Maya's cubs went into hiding and Maya was seen mating with males in her area.

* Cubs were sighted at different spots by tourists irregularly

* On June 22, Maya & Gabbar sighted at waterhole 97
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save our tigersyash


* Gabbar defeated Matkasur in a fight and mated with Maya for last four days

Pics By Himanshu Bagde clicked between June 22 and 24 at Tadoba

1,2,3: Rare pictures of tigers mating: Gabbar and Maya
4. Maya's young cubs with a kill
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