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

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TIGERS IN NORTHERN INDIA AND NEPAL - PART XIX


Northern India and Nepal compared to the Deccan


a - Tigresses

The table below has information on the length of 111 tigresses shot in Nepal and in 3 regions in what was then British India in the period 1869-1939. Only 31 were weighed. I propose to start with the overview right away.  

Table XVIII:

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b - Conclusions

1 - The Deccan sample is the oldest. It also is less reliable than the others for 3 reasons. One is that Burton wrote the tigresses had been measured in a slightly different way than in northern India and Nepal: " ... measurements were taken from point of nose to tail, the tape loosely following the curves of the body ... " (JBNHS, Vol. 25, pp. 492). It is about 'loosely'. Two is the limited amount of individual variation, suggesting Col. Fraser, who measured them, might have selected a bit at the gate. Three is the sample is smallish. The advantage is all tigresses were weighed.

2 - The Cooch Behar sample is much larger and also shows more individual variation, but one has to remember that the 11 tigresses weighed were not 267,72 cm. 'over curves' in total length: they averaged 270,22 cm., whereas those not weighed averaged 266,57 cm. If all would have been weighed, the average would have been just over 300 lbs.

Although the difference between Deccan and Cooch Behar tigresses only was about 1 inch in total length 'over curves', we have to remember that the difference would have been more pronounced if they would have been measured 'between pegs'. The reason is Deccan tigresses were measured in a slightly different way (see above). Maybe the real difference ('between pegs') would have been closer to 2-3 inches. This means every extra inch in total length resulted in about 10 extra pounds (about 4 lbs. per cm.).

3 - Hewett's sample is the most reliable of all. The first reason is he was there himself. The second is he provided details about the way the tigresses were measured. This is why we know we have to deduct 2-3 inches in order to get to the total length 'between pegs'. In Cooch Behar, the difference between both methods in one tigress was 4,75 inches. As she was longer than average (about 3 inches), I propose to deduct 4 inches for all or a bit more. This means Cooch Behar tigresses would have averaged about 8.5 if they would have been measured 'between pegs', whereas they would have averaged about 8.7 'between pegs' in northwestern India.

Although they were a bit longer than tigresses shot in Cooch behar, tigresses shot in northwestern India were not as heavy (300-302 lbs. in Cooch Behar as opposed to 275-280 lbs. in northwestern India). Cooch Behar tigresses, therefore, were a bit shorter, but (absolutely and relatively) heavier. One could, of course, say that too few were weighed in northwestern India to get to a conclusion and be right, but this wouldn't result in a significantly different conclusion regarding total length and weight.  

4 - The Nepal sample is the largest. It has a lot of individual variation and Smythies more than once emphasized the measurements were reliable. Assuming that Nepal tigers were measured in the same way as in northwestern India (unclear, but likely), I propose to deduct 2-3 inches, maybe a bit more. This would result in in an average of 8.7-8.8 in total length 'between pegs'.

For extra-long tigresses, I propose to deduct 4-5 inches. This means the 2 tigresses taping 9.8 in total length 'over curves' would have been 9.3-9.4 in total length 'between pegs'. This more or less corresponds with the info I have of tigresses measured in this way in that region (northwestern India and Nepal). 

5 - Compared to males shot and measured in the same period, the differences between regions in tigresses are less outspoken. One reason is that differences in size tend to be more outspoken in larger animals. Another is the samples were smaller.

6 - I would remember the connection between total length and weight in Cooch Behar tigresses. The reason is it is quite different in males. Reply