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

[peter]

TIGERS AND WILD BOARS - 3 - RUSSIA - FOUR SCENARIOS


Based on the autopsy report, one can conclude that the tiger would have been hardly able to move, let alone stalk or run. This means that it would have been impossible for him to get close to the wild boar. In spite of that, they met. It was to be a violent meeting that resulted in a dead boar. The tiger, for some reason, wasn't injured. Remarkable. 

The question is how they met and why the meeting resulted in a deadly struggle. I see 4 scenarios for now. 

a - Ambush (tiger)

Maybe the tiger had dragged himself to a game track before the boar appeared. A tiger, even a large one, can disappear into thin air. Maybe the boar wasn't aware of the tiger and maybe he walked straight into the trap. 

But the tiger and the boar met in winter. Snow had been falling. In winter, Amur tigers have a pale coat. But pale is different from white and so are black stripes. It's likely that the boar saw the tiger, that is. Also remember that boars have a good sense of smell. For this reason, an ambush, although possible, seems unlikely. 

b - Animosity (boar)

Let's assume for a moment that the boar saw the tiger first. Also assume he noticed the tiger was incapacitated. In the Russian Far East, it's more than likely that wild boars and tigers meet at some stage in their life. If a wild boar meets an adult tiger, chances are it will run. A large and seasoned old warrior, however, might decide to use the opportunity. 

Let's assume the boar initiated an attack. If he did, he would have been able to strike from a direction that would have resulted in a big advantage. It's also likely that the attack would have resulted in damage. To the tiger. But he had no injuries. Furthermore, the story would have been printed in the snow. Finally, we have to add that the boar was killed. Not the tiger. All in all, I'd say that an attack directed by animosity seems unlikely.   

c - Curiosity  (boar)  

Those who know about wild animals and their habits often wrote about curiosity. Herbivores in particular seem to be curious animals, even in the face of danger. 

It's best seen on the African plains. When a pride of lions attacks a herd of wildebeest and bring one down, the others stop fleeing. Not seldom, they return to the scene of the crime to investigate the situation. Some animals, like elephants and buffalos, try to assist the one that was taken. In India, many animals living in small groups or herds (sambar, cheetal, gaur and wild boar) show similar behaviour.

When the boar, driven by curiosity (the tiger most probably appeared different), would have approached the tiger for a closer look and the tiger would have had the chance to strike, he would have had a very big advantage. Big enough to get to a death grip almost immediately. Remember that the tiger was capable to drag himself to a depression after the struggle, meaning he still was a powerful animal just before death struck. Also remember that the boar would have been cautious, but, perhaps, unprepared. Although this scenario is far-fetched, it seems more likely than the first two.

d - Displacement (boar)

Big cats are strictly carnivorous hunters. They walk the edge and developed a fitting attitude. Wild boars are omnivores. If a boar would get the opportunity to move to protein, however, he wouldn't think twice. Same for a male bear. The difference between bears and boars is that bears can hunt (to a degree). Bears also are larger and, not seldom, hunt wild boars. Boars can kill small animals (I saw documentaries in which they digged out rabbits or preyed on fawns), but that would come under 'opportunity'. There is a difference between opportunity and professional hunting.

So how get to protein if you are a boar or a bear? There are three answers. One is dumps, two is fish and three is displacement. Although salmon are to be had in some parts of Amur river basin, displacement is as popular. An Amur (or Ussuri) brown bear can displace a big cat and my guess is a large male wild boar also is able to displace a big cat at times. They did it in India a century ago and there's no reason to assume they wouldn't be able to do it in Russia. The condition is size, but attitude also is important. As both take time, only males would be involved in displacement. Old males.

Displacing takes two; a professional hunter and a professional displacer. When a displacer meets with succes and develops over time, chances are he will extend to male tigers sooner or later. Displacing a male Amur tiger, however, is risky business. It not only takes size, nerve and experience. The displacer also needs to be able to absorb an attack and retaliate. Bluffing isn't going to do the job, that is. At some stage, contact can't be avoided. But a struggle leaves a story in the snow and often results in injuries and the tiger wasn't injured. Again I would get to 'possible, but unlikely'.
 
e - Conclusion

The autopsy report clearly said that the tiger would have been hardly able to move, let alone run and struggle. It also said he was very ill. Close to death, however, his chances suddenly turned. For a moment. 

During the struggle with the old male wild boar, the tiger wasn't injured. Not typical for a life and death struggle, one would think. Remarkable if we add the tiger was severely affected by a deadly disease. All in all, one would think that the boar was killed fast. After the struggle, the tiger dragged himself to a depression close to a road, where he perished.

So how did the tiger and the boar meet and why did the meeting result in a deadly struggle in which the tiger, in spite of his terrible condition, did not sustain any injury?

An ambush can't be ruled out, as the tiger would have been hungry. As he would have had knowledge about game trails and traffic, chances are he would have known about a good hide. If we add that wild boars are quite noisy and not that attentive, the boar could have walked into a trap. However. An ambush requires movement, speed and force, especially when the victim is an old male wild boar. Remember male boars can exceed the weight of a male tiger in this region. They also often have large tusks. Although possible, an ambush seems unlikely.  

As two of the other three scenarios also seem unlikely, death by curiosity, no matter how far-fetched, can't be excluded. Curiosity killed the cat, they say. That, however, would hold for all animals directed by curiosity, no? Wild boars as well? Yes. They in particular. Why? Wild boars are nose-directed animals always out for a bargain. But why would a boar on his own try to get close to a tiger? Maybe old male boars have a lot of confidence? 

Curiosity killed the boar, then? Cat killed a boar driven by curiosity could be more accurate. But (over)confidence could have been as important in this case. And never trust a tiger in a wheelchair. Reply