There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(01-16-2019, 09:55 AM)GuateGojira Wrote: Little question, how many events between tigers and dholes witnessed Mr Anderson?
From the other side, Dr Karanth, Dr Chundawat and others had witnessed more events and in all the cases the tiger dominate. Remember that in these days there are still groups of up to 15 dholes, but the problem is how many are "adults" and how many are large "cubs". I think that Dr Karanth is correct in suspect the event recorded by Mr Anderson.
I do think that a weak/ill tiger/lion can be attacked and maybe killed by packs of dogs, like Mazák stated, but certainly that will not be the norm and modern evidence do not support the old claims.
The fact that Mr Karanth (and Mr Chundawat) has not witnessed personaly a tiger attacked by dholes doesn't mean that such an events have never happened. Such a statement from his side will be a sign a high self esteem and a basically ridiculous. In order to make general conclusions about tiger-dhole relations we need to collect all information in the last 2 centuries from hunters, local people and scientists. Blaming Kenneth Anderson, a man who spent his entire life in the the Indian jungles Mr Karanth became himself vulnerable for accusations. While highly talented stories of Anderson will be read even after century, frankly speaking Karanth texts are one of the most boring and clumsy scientific texts I have ever tried to red.
Zoological survey of India, tiger injured by dholes in Kanha, 1963
*This image is copyright of its original author
This is an interesting topic. I am myself very cautious about Corbett and Anderson as sources, which is no secret to people who have read my postings. Then again this interaction between dholes and tigers is not based on only their observations. Tigers are on the very top of food chain in India and majestic animal. Of course it is interesting to know more if there is species which can, even though not often, but even sometimes to challenge it, not only irritate. I remember, that once when I was reading about tigers, there was mentioned that in one region in India dhole numbers had rised up a lot and researchers noticed, that in that area were less tigers than usually. It can take time to find that document, but if someone remembers reading same, maybe could find that faster?
I don´t remember now so specifically where and what time, because I was searching other information at that time, but I remember reading it and thinking briefly, that it looks odd and are dholes really that kind of pain in the a** for tigers? Then I forgot that until now :)