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

[Apex Titan]

Amur tiger Predation on Asiatic black bears (Observations by Sergey Kolchin)

Its well known that Himalayan black bears are common prey of tigers. The Asiatic black bear of the Amur-Ussuri regions (also known as the Himalayan or Ussuri black bear) is the largest subspecies of Asiatic black bear. Male Ussuri black bears are larger and more formidable than sloth bears. While a very large male sloth bear can weigh up to 160-180 kg, a large male Asiatic black bear can significantly exceed 200 kg in weight, and have a body length of 2 meters. - Similar in size and weight to some adult male tigers and brown bears.

In fact, large male Himalayan bears (150-200+kg) are heavier than the average adult female Kamchatka brown bears (174.5 kg, body length 194 cm).

According to Aramilev (click on the video link below), it's normal for Himalayan bears in the Primorye region to weigh 200 kg. Aramilev stated that the Himalayan black bear can even weigh up to 250 kg! The greatest weight of Himalayan black bears is in autumn and winter, when they have fattened up for hibernation. 

Sergey Aramilev also recently stated in this video here: (Use English subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agSu3xan7OA&t=51s

"There are tigers that specialize in Himalayan bears, especially in autumn, when they have already gained weight and fat, it's very comfortable (delicious) food. Tigers directly know where you can find delicious Himalayan bears."

Biologist Linda Kerley (her email to poster 'Jungle Sprout ', 2011) also stated: 

"I've seen tigers prey on black bears of all shapes and sizes, up to the largest and healthiest female brown bears."

Himalayan black bears are part of the Amur tigers basic diet. Adult bears (of all ages & both sexes) are regularly hunted and killed by tigers. But do the largest and most formidable male black bears, weighing 200+kg, also fall prey to tigers? Do very large male black bears fear tigers? 

As tigers regularly hunt (at any time of the year) adult Himalayan black bears, I wanted some context as to the size and weight of the black bears that become victims of tigers. I wanted confirmation by an experienced field biologist first-hand, if tigers even prey on the huge male black bears, which weigh in excess of 200 kg.

There's a significant difference between an average adult male Himalayan bear (130-140 kg - average summer weight) and a large, old male Himalayan bear weighing 170 - 200+kg. Large old male bears are more powerful, have a nastier & aggressive temperament, fully developed muscle on their head and neck area, and are more seasoned and experienced fighters, often exhibiting old battle scars on their face.

I recently contacted Sergey Kolchin (biologist & leading expert on the biology of wild tigers and bears in Russia). Kolchin has a vast amount of field experience, he has found many bears that have been killed by tigers, he also reported that: "Bears are common prey for tigers."

I asked him what was the largest Himalayan black bear he's ever seen that was killed by a tiger. Kolchin told me that even the huge male black bears (weighing 200+kg, and a body length of 2 meters) fall prey to tigers. These large, old male bears hunted and killed by tigers are also similar in size to large tigers:

*This image is copyright of its original author

This was also confirmed last year in 2021, when a male tiger hunted, killed and devoured a large, old male black bear. Kolchin followed the tracks of the male tiger in the snow, and found the remains of a dismembered, large male bear that was killed and mostly eaten by the tiger.

Judging by the size of the paws, claws and forearms, this could likely have been a huge male black bear, similar in size to his killer.

Large paws of the bear:  (Notice the old battle scars on the bears face)

*This image is copyright of its original author

Large claws:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Notice the large, thick and robust forearms of the bear:

*This image is copyright of its original author

His observations and findings also confirm what Baikov stated about large tigers hunting (large) bears of the same weight, and what field biologist Linda Kerley stated about (seeing) tigers preying on black bears of all shapes and sizes.

Sergey Kolchin stated that the Himalayan bear is terribly afraid of the tiger and avoids him. Only large male bears, in some cases, are able to offer decent resistance when attacked by a tiger. But nothing more. Even the large male bears are usually killed when predated on:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Even large male Himalayan bears, fearing a tiger, will flee up a tree when they hear the approach of a large animal:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Large bears are frightened by very fresh marks of tigers or trails with a smell of a tiger - 1-2 hours ago:

*This image is copyright of its original author

Himalayan black bears (even pound for pound) are one of the most powerfully built and robust bear species. For a tiger to kill a large male bear (170-200+kg) of similar size, it takes a lot of skill, power and strength. As the tiger, in some cases, has to fight, grapple and subdue the large bear in order to kill it.

But Amur tigers are very adept at hunting and killing large bears, although it's still a risky business as bears are a dangerous prey, armed with formidable teeth and claws and immense strength, able to inflict some injuries to a tiger, so the tiger needs to execute his attack properly.

Although, even huge male black bears (according to numerous fight accounts, experts & biologists) are not capable of defeating a tiger in a fight. They can only offer decent resistance, but thats it. In a fair fight between a very large male black bear weighing 200+kg and an average male tiger, the bear is simply outclassed physically by the tiger. Hence why even the largest male black bears become victims of the tiger.

From Yuri Dunishenko (senior researcher & field biologist) and Sergey Aramilev (General Director of the Amur Tiger Center):

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://amur-tiger.ru/data/files/files/ti...ressed.pdf

Below are some examples of large male Himalayan black bears. This puts into perspective the size of bears that are hunted and killed by tigers. (I didn't want to post Russian hunter trophy photo's of large male black bears). 

I also posted pictures/videos of large male Himalayan black bears from South-Asia, as it's easier to find videos of Asiatic black bears from South-Asia than Russia.

A large male from Lazovsky Nature Reserve, Primorye region (Russia):

*This image is copyright of its original author

A large, well-fed Himalayan black bear from 'Land of the Leopard National Park' (Russia):

*This image is copyright of its original author

Here is a huge male Himalayan black bear (most definitely 200+kg) captured in Omah, Verinag; Over 10 men struggled to move this very hefty bear:

A large male Himalayan black bear being released (Massive specimen, likely 200+kg):

*This image is copyright of its original author

A large male caught in Kashmir:

A large, hefty looking male black bear that was sadly killed (accidentally) at night by a vehicle in central Kashmir:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

A large Himalayan black bear in the Nandhor Valley, Uttarakhand:

*This image is copyright of its original author

A large male Asiatic black bear from Japan. This bear was 1.3 meters at the shoulders (4 ft and 3 inches shoulder height on all fours):

*This image is copyright of its original author

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13856819


A large male Ussuri black bear compared to a male Amur tiger next to the same tree:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Himalayan black bears from South Asia (India & Pakistan) can also reach massive sizes, but the largest Himalayan bears (Ussuri black bears) are found in the Amur-Ussuri region of the Russian taiga. As you can see, the bears that are hunted by tigers are far from small. They are large, very robust and powerful animals.

In my opinion, the size and weight of Asiatic black bears are highly underestimated by most people. As the above pictures/videos clearly show, these bears can often reach impressive sizes and weights, exceeding 200 kg. One large male shot in Japan was claimed to have weighed 237 kg.

Conclusions:

1) It's a fact that huge male black bears (weighing 200+kg, body length of 2 meters) fall prey to tigers (Sergey Kolchin, 2022). Black bears of all shapes and sizes are killed by tigers (L. Kerley, 2011).

2) Due to active predation by tigers, large male black bears highly fear tigers and will usually flee up a tree when they encounter or sense the presence of a tiger. 

3) Large bears, in general, are frightened by very fresh marks or trails of tigers.

4) Tigers prefer to hunt Himalayan black bears in autumn, when bears have gained weight. This makes the bear more juicy and tasty for the tiger to eat, but also provides more meat.

5) Tigers regularly hunt and kill Himalayan black bears all year round (especially in summer & autumn) and individuals of all ages, genders and sizes become victims. (Tkachenko, Kolchin, L.Kerley et al; 2011, 2012, 2017, 2022). Reply