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

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TIGERS IN NORTHERN INDIA AND NEPAL - PART XIII


Nepal (females)


a - A.E. Smythies ('Big game shooting in Nepal', Calcutta, 1942)

After discussing Smythies and the measurements he provided at length, we can now move on to the table for females. It has individual entries in chronological order. The 29 tigresses were shot between 07-01-1933 and 24-02-1939 in different regions in southern Nepal.

In total length 'over curves', they ranged between 7.9 (236,22 cm.) and 9.8 (294,65 cm.). The average for all 29 was 266,22 cm. As 2 of these were suspect (tigresses 01 and 09), I decided for a second average. Without them, the average of 27 was 268,16 cm.

Remember the book had no details about the 2 tigresses omitted. The decision to leave them out, however, is not completely arbitrary. In my post on the visit of the Maharajah of Bikanir to Nepal, 3 large female cubs, all at least 8 feet in total length 'over curves', were still with their mother when they were shot in 1920.   

The main difference with the other regions discussed in previous posts (northeastern India and northern India) is in range: Nepal, where tigers in most districts were not molested for a considerable period of time, produced both very short and very long tigresses. Although I'm not sure (for lack of details), I assume most were adult. The two longest tigresses (no. 20 and 28) both had cubs when they were shot, but one of the shortest (tigress 17, who taped 8.0 in total length 'over curves') also had 3 cubs.

The differences between the districts are remarkable. In Naya Muluk in the extreme west of Nepal, 6 tigresses averaged 261,62 cm. in total length 'over curves', whereas the 10 shot in Chitawan averaged 270,89 cm. In Morang, in the extreme southeast, 4 tigresses averaged no less than 283,85 cm. in total length. The most like explanation for the differences, apart from sample size, could be pressure. In regions in which they were hunted at times, they were considerably shorter than in Chitawan and Morang.

Table XIV:
        

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b - Conclusions

1 - Using sample size and the amount of individual variation as indicators, we can say that the Nepal sample is quite reliable. In sample size, it more or less compares to northeastern and northern india.

2 - Although some females were well over 9 feet in total length 'over curves', Nepal tigresses, in this respect, compare to tigresses shot in northeastern and northern india. The most likely reason seems to be the significant amount of individual variation.  

3 - In total length, there are significant differences between regions. Tigresses shot in unmolested districts were considerably longer than those shot in regions where they were hunted.  

4 - Based on table I posted before, one could say that tigresses shot in northeastern India could have been a bit more robust (unclear). This conclusion, as a result of a lack of data, is not reliable. 

5 - Tigresses 20 and 28, at 9.8 (294,64 cm.) 'over curves', are the longest that I know of. If we use the only tigress measured both 'over curves' and 'between pegs' as an indicator (tigress 24 in table I), both Nepal tigresses could have been about 282,00 cm. in total length if they would have been measured 'between pegs'. This means they compared to an average male tiger shot in northeastern India. 

6 - Tigress 10 was the only shot from a machan. All others were shot from elephants.

7 - Tigresses 21 and 29 were shot in a 'ring' that also had Himalayan black bears. When the circle was tightened and both species met, they fought. The fights were witnessed and described in the first posts. Reply