Tigers of South India & Western Ghats

[Ngala]

Photo and information credits: Praveen Siddannavar Photography
Hello Good morning! As you would have rightly guessed, I'm a new male marking and my territory here. I'm not used to humans and safari vehicles hence as soon as I heard your vehicle noise from a distance, I jumped off and sneaked into the lantana bushes. I was keeping a close watch on you though, and in no time I could sense that you aren't harmful nor any threat to me. Hence I decided to come out with boldly and show up. This is my home from now on and I hope to explore other parts of tourism zones with your good wishes and support. Do visit my territory again and I will be more than happy to greet you with a smile. I really appreciate the way you gave me my space by maintaining distance, I'm a new bloke in the area, wish me luck for my wellbeing and also to find my mate?. 
Friends spotted this new male on 5th October 2016 at 7am.
Location - Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India

*This image is copyright of its original author

New Male of Bandipur! This is a early morning shot when we spotted a new male, initially he shied away but in no time he was seen out in the open. It seemed he was on his morning stroll marking his territory and interestingly apart from the traditional urine spray he rubbed his cheek/chin on the tree trunk. This is a very unique way to mark territory, scent glands are present on cheek/chin and this scent can remain upto several days. Marking territory warns the intruding male tigers in the area and also invites females for courtship. I simply love documenting such behaviours of these cats...
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4th October 2016
Location - Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India 

*This image is copyright of its original author

Mystery Continues.. New Male of Bandipur - Flehmen response or just a Growl? - Flehmen response for me:)
Photographing tigers is always an amazing experience however documenting them with typical behavior is even more exciting. Such was one of the sightings we had while shooting this new hilltop male tiger. Tigers or any other animals may perform the flehmen response when investigating sites of particular interest, or perhaps odors or tastes. The animal curling back its top lips exposing the front teeth and gums, then inhaling and holding the posture for several seconds characterizes this response. The behavior may be performed over particular locations, in which case the animal may also lick the site of interest, or it may be performed with the neck stretched and head held high in the air for a more general gustatory investigation. The flehmen response often gives the appearance that the animal is "grimacing", "smirking" or "laughing".
This behavior helps in identifying reproductive status - male individuals commonly use the flehmen response as an olfactory mechanism for identifying the reproductive state of females of the same species based on pheromones in the female's urine or genitals. This generally occurs most frequently on the day before estrus when the ewes are sexually receptive.
4th October 2016
Location - Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, India

*This image is copyright of its original author

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