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

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(12-24-2021, 01:48 PM)peter Wrote: ON THE SIZE OF CAPTIVE AMUR TIGERS - VII

VII.1 -  Introduction

This post has both tables (males and females) I referred to in my previous post. It also has a lot of additional information (abbrevations, notes, remarks and references). For this reason, I decided against supplementive remarks and comments. 

VII.2 - Abbrevations

When reading the tables, you'll need this:

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VII.3 - Amur tigresses

Here's the table with females. You'll find the averages in this next paragraph (VII.4):

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VII.4 - Averages of Amur tigresses

Captive Amur tigresses (n=27) average 138,1 kg (almost 305 pounds). Although a bit shorter than the captive Amur tigresses in Hengdaohezi and the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park, they roughly compare in most respects. You'll find more details in 'Remarks' (directly below the table). Finding information about tigresses, by the way, was more difficult than finding information about male Amur tigers: 

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VII.5 - Male Amur tigers

The table has 85 entries. Deep black numbers mean decisions were taken (see 'Notes' and 'Remarks'): 

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VII.6 - Averages of male Amur tigers

Captive male Amur tigers average 224,2 kg (almost 495 pounds), 205,7 cm (6.9) in HB and 303,1 cm (just over 9.11) in total length measured 'between pegs'. Although a bit heavier than the tigers from Hengdaohezi and the Harbin Siberian Tiger Park discussed in the previous posts, they roughly compare.

The averages are more reliable than the averages for females, because of the sample size (referring to weight in particular): 

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*This image is copyright of its original author

VII.7 - Notes and remarks

In this paragraph, you'll find a bit more about some of the tigers in the tables: 

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VII.8 - Sources

In this long paragraph, you'll find the sources of the information used for the table:

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VII.9 - Closing remarks

When going over the tables, you'll notice there are quite significant differences in size between Amur tigers in European, American, African (referring to South Africa). Chinese and Japanese zoos. As far as I can see, Amur tigers in European zoos are larger than elsewhere. The more east you go (referring to Europe) the larger the tigers, so it seems (watch the last word, as I'm not sure). 

Here's a male from Hungary that wasn't measured and weighed when he was sedated. Watch the fore-arms:

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*This image is copyright of its original author
I'm unable to tell you anything about the reasons. It could be a result of coincidence, but it's also possible there are specific reasons. Before the turn of the century, Amur tigers in American zoos were as large as those elsewhere (see the list of references). After the turn of the century, however, the number of reports about small tigers increased. Tiger 'Pavel' isn't the only one well below 400 pounds in his prime. It seems to be a pattern, but I'm not sure. If there is a pattern, it doesn't hold for females. I don't have the time to produce a table with the average weight in different continents, but it could be one of you is interested. 

Those who evaluated historic records of wild Amur tigers noticed a marked decrease in size after 1970. My feeling is it isn't very different in captive tigers, but I could be wrong. 

Over the years, I talked to many people I considered as very experienced in the tiger department. They told me an average adult male Amur tiger in good health today is 240-260 kg in his best years. Male tigers ranging between 160-200 kg in their prime are uncommon. Same for males well exceeding 300 kg. My guess is the average I found wouldn't surprise them. Without the Americans, the average most probably is quite close to what they told me. They also thought Amur tigers used to be bigger in the recent past. One reason Amur tigers lost size over time, they said, was the extermination of Manchurian tigers after 1950 or 1960. Could be just a rumour, but I heard it more than once.

The best form to describe this big investigation is that this is a "labor of love". I am amazed by the amount of data that you got at this point, and certainly these tables are going tobe mandatory in future conversations and debates.

Thank you again for providing this information. Reply