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

[peter]

THE SIZE OF WILD MALE AMUR TIGERS

a - Healthy tigers

I agree the tiger, judging from the length of the tail, the body and the hind legs, seems to be a bit small for an adult male. But maybe he was well below par in most departments in his prime and maybe this, apart from his age, was the reason he wasn't able to survive a fight with an immature. 

When we think of adult male Amur tigers, we often see the giant Sungari River tiger shot by the Jankowski's, the giant Duisburg Zoo male and the many others photographed from a nice angle. But they were the exceptions.

According to the WCS-table, wild male Amur tigers of 36 months and over ranged between 178 and 208 cm. in head and body (measured 'over curves') and 125-200 kg. in weight back then (about a decade ago), but males of 212, 207, 204 and 200 kg. (more than once) have been captured later on. We now know males of 36 months and older range between 155-212 kg. in weight. If we use 48 months as the threshold for adulthood (most authorities would agree on 4-5 years for males), the range would be 170-212 kg. Impressive by any standard, but weightwise probably below par in most parts of India and just about similar to or a trifle heavier than Kruger lions.

In good conditions, healthy male Amur tigers, according to someone who had personal experience and weighed Amur tigers himself (Eagle Raptor, who posted at AVA) average 480-500 pounds (217,7-226,8 kg.) and a table posted by someone interested some time ago confirmed he wasn't far from the mark. But I also saw adult males who ranged between 350-400 pounds (158,8-181,4 kg.) and the male I weighed, at 298,0 cm. in total length (after 7 weeks of starvation), was 185,5 kg. (409 pounds). That male, by the way, was 312,5 cm., 'over curves'. One of the other seven Amur tigers I saw in the rescue centre I visited, some years later, scaled 211 kg. (weighed at Schiphol Airport). In my opinion, most captive males range between 400-500 pounds (181,4-226,8 kg.). A male over 550 pounds (249,5 kg.) is a very large one. Animals of 600 pounds (272,2 kg.) and over in good shape are very few.     

b - Problem tigers

There also are 'problem' tigers. Adult male problem tigers only very seldom exceed 150 kg. and most never get to even that weight. One male starved to death was only 70 kg. when he was found (Mazak, 1983). Many 'problem' females struggle to get to 100 kg. Unhealthy wild Amur tigers, like 'Schatuns', often are desperate animals capable of anything. Because of this, many perish well before their time. 

If it hadn't been for the long table of 'problem' tigers found dead over the years (WCS), chances are we would never have heard of them. But they were there and there will always be 'problem' tigers in Russia. The reason is tough conditions. 

Remember the bear-killer with different nick-names? In his prime, at 445 pounds, 'Dale' was bragging about all the bears he had killed. There were interviews and there was airplay. Then, for some reason, he lost three canines and 75 pounds. But they found him and he recovered using one canine only. He finally entered the famous WCS-table at about 424 pounds (192 kg.), but it could have been 375 pounds if he would have been weighed during his downfall. In the end, everything you read depends. On individuals, the time of year, the selection of what a healthy animal is and a whole lot more.     
 
We could construct a special table of healthy giants suited for leaflets, flyers, specials and everything related. The table itself might be correct (there are quite many reliable records of large animals accurately measured and weighed), but it will never be a true representation of the entire wild population. In benign conditions, wild male Amur tigers might get to the average for captive males (480-500 pounds), but in wild Russia a male over 200 kg. (440 pounds) is impressive.  

c - Why small tigers have a chance in Russia

After reading the previous paragraphs, the question, of course, is why some males well below par get to adulthood at all, not to mention a long and healthy life, in spite of the tough conditions. The answer is quite simple. 

About a century ago, Amur tigers were still seen not that far from Lake Baikal and in Manchuria. The historic range of Amur tigers was impressive. Today's Amur tigers only occupy a small part of it. Most of their former range, however, still is quite suited. Furthermore, they are welcome. The Chinese want them and the Russians prefer them over wolves.

Suppose you are an Amur tiger and your mom was killed at a young age. As a result of a shortage of food and stress, you didn't get to your potential in a vital part of your life. You made it to adulthood, but suffer from countless health roblems and, most important, a lack of size. At 173 cm. in head and body fully stretched, a miserable tail, taping only 88 cm. at the shoulder in your prime and weighing only 161 kg. after a decent meal you got by displacing a miniature bear, you face a life filled with problems anywhere. Competition and all that. Not so in wild Russia. You can just walk away from it all and end up in a remote place with zero competition when you keep on walking (in Russia, tigers have walked 1000 km. in 22 days only). You thrive on animals who never saw a tiger and get to 175 kg. After some years, you meet a tigress prepared to accept you for lack of other males. And in tough times, the Chinese are prepared to offer you and your family a few young bullocks when you leave them alone. How lucky can you get?

Maybe this is how males like the 'Lazy Tiger' (see my post on 'Winter Ecology of the Amur Tiger' - A.G. Yudakov and I.G. Nikolaev - 2nd revised edition - 2012, pp. 83) got the chance to get to quite a full life. True, he was killed in a fight, but competition would have been much less severe in a remote region. He knew he should have walked away from it all, but he couldn't. The reason is he couldn't walk, let alone participate in nordic long distance walking. He had to rest very often, hence his nickname. But he wasn't lazy. It was them bones and the autopsy showed he had been right. 

Maybe the Lazy Tiger wasn't the only one who suffered from problems. Maybe the tiger that perished in the snow also was a 'problem' tiger who got the chance to grow old. Until he met the youngster. Reply