Tiger-Lion Coexistence in Eurasia between Middle Pleistocene and Holocene Epochs

[Sanju]

(12-31-2018, 07:18 AM)pateluday Wrote: Albeit they both subscribe to different habitats there is a grand possibility of them encountering in scrub and dry deciduous torn types of forests. The habitat preference does limit the conflict but for sure some habitats would invite both species to visit and hence the conflict.

You are right. For some extent, they may come in confrontation and it is the truth as they are not in fenced environments, they may come to each other's habitat. Particularly Tiger is more versatile when compared to Lion coz Lion "prefers" mostly arid zones. I think I mentioned about it in previous posts. When they meet in same area:

Quote:@pateluday

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These animal do not tolerate their own kind, lesser cats and leopards forget them being kind to each other.

Quote:@pateluday 

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Why would a tiger and lion co exists certainly not being prime predators there would be a territorial battle and deadly on as well.

"See" One thing I wanted to remind all here.
Territory: In ethology, territory is the sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics. Animals that defend territories in this way are referred to as territorial. Territoriality is only shown by a minority of species.

Here Lion and Tiger both are different Species and belong to different phylogenitic lineages of the same genera.

More commonly, an individual or a group of animals has an area that it habitually uses but does not necessarily defend; this is called the home range or territory. The home ranges of different groups of animals often overlap, or in the overlap areas, the groups tend to avoid each other rather than seeking to expel each other. Within the home range there may be a core area that no other individual group uses, but, again this is as a result of avoidance.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

See the territorial battle happens b/w two animals of same species to defend:

• Food and Water resources, 
• Nests and offspring, 
• Mating opportunities,
  

It will be never a territorial fight/battle between lion and tiger. I don't know why people use this word territorial fight often (because it is famous?). This is called "Inter-specific Interaction" (you can't decide it as conflict before) arises due to "Inter-specific Competition" for same resources like food (prey in this case and in that too lion will prefer bigger prey to satisfy the pride as in lion home range, lions/per sq.km are more as they are social when compared to solitary tiger) and water too. This thing too will happen occasionally when any of the species either lion or tiger stray out of their habitat.

Conflicts (inter specific) occur due to one thing:

• Competition for resources only.
  

The animals (Big cats and other territorial animals of different species when come in interaction) are called competitors. Like other territorial animals, Tiger don't want to mate with a female lion (which is another species unlike in captivity in which they are raised together to overcome the species differentiation knowledge and intraspecific behaviour of mating to create hybrids) and doesn't consider as Lion's territory as a tiger's territory coz it is a lion. Big cats are intelligent and not blind like all other animals. They can distinguish their own species from other types. A lions home range can have a leopard or hyena's (apex predator too) or a cheetah territory entirely or in overlap. It is nothing like a territory means an animal species thing in which no other animal can enter.

A Lion is not blind to see a predator like tiger, as a prey to chase with its pride. A tiger is not an inferior opponent has similar build and size. If they are of same size they will fight, even sometimes, one is bigger than other. But the problem here is they are different species. They don't to fight over females to mate.

(Although there are some millions of crores of inter specific competition and interactions examples since amphibians and carnivorous apex dinosaurs species like territorial animals time to age of mammals) For instance and convenience, I give a simple example:

Lion-Hyena (both can be called as apex predators): In this case, Lion is bigger and superior in some qualities. Did the spotted hyena extinct? No. why? it is because it strengthens by living in clans (n>lion pride) as a defense strategy. The same goes to lions as they do so to live efficiently in savanna mode of ecosystem. The wild dog group individuals number is even more indication as the predator size in savanna decreases it is becoming more social as defense, to hunt and live efficiently.
Now some points:
1. Hyena (spotted) speed: around 60 km/hr
2. Lion speed: around sometimes 80 km/hr

Can't lions demolish whole hyena species if they want? will the lions try to chase a hyena clan, separate a hyena from clan, and kill it? It may happen in exceptional and extreme cases. It won't happen mostly even Lion can hunt buffalo herd like giants coz Hyena is not a prey (it is also predator, difficult to tackle as strong opponent even as single too in which lion may be injured to give a disability for its survival, as it is tertiary consumer so may not have essential nutrients/taste,etc..,).

They may eliminate each other like all other competitions existing in the world (whats so special? coz it is lion and tiger? which are super beings having special powers?) like sick/injured/disabled etc.., ones are cornered and surrounded without any giving any chance of flee or escape to run. They will certainly kill it or if sub adult/juveniles are seen without any protection. They do so to eliminate too much competition for resources like food and water.

Similar like these cheetah benefits from speed to avoid interspecific conflicts with larger prey/predators. A leopard does the same thing by climbing trees. Wild dog pack has strength in packs and has more endurance than lion. sometimes, lions don't even bother black backed jackals around them. Cant they kill them? They don't coz it is not about fun. It is about survival in the harsh wilderness, every animal should take care of itself, should pass on its progeny, defend for itself, gather food for its own kind etc.., these type of important things are there for every animal of them. Every calorie of Energy matters. It is universal for all animals.

What I'm trying to say is.... Tiger is not a prey for lion and vice versa, They are different species prefer different habitats. Even though they come in contact rarely. They will avoid each other and they did avoid each other. Here Lions strategy is group as defense so the tiger avoids it, Tiger strategy is avoiding confrontation by fleeing (if they meet), its size, it is not considered as a prey/competition for mating rights to waste energy fighting and chasing on it, it is not a nomad male to defend for its mate and offspring. It is just a competitor for lions like a leopard passing by.

If we just remove Lion vs tiger internet fights, considering animals as kings and queens and most importantly, animals as machines/robots like in real steel built to fight for fun like in captivity and staged fights, We will then understand why researches are saying Lion and tiger coexisted for thousands of years in the same region not necessarily same food chain or habitat. The situations are different out there in the wild, it is all about survival. It is not an enclosure, every animal has to do all for itself in the wild.

*This image is copyright of its original author

This will happen only in captivity
They don't do anything for fun like fighting with another species kind in which either sides have no use (they can recognize other species from their own) of defending mating opportunities/offspring but both sides will sustain mortal injuries (detrimental) as both lion and tiger are similar sized which will be a big blow and disability for survival to hunt. They play only during infant or juvenile stage for fun in which in that too they do so to improve and sharpen/prowess their skills which are helpful when they become adults.
Thank you. Reply