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

[peter]

TIGER FIGHTS INDIA

In this post, a few photographs. Most have been posted before, but not all who visit this forum may have seen them. 

a - Male tiger

This tiger was as robust as they come. The photograph proves tigers found dead in India usually are measured. The question is where the measurements go to:     

*This image is copyright of its original author

b - Male tiger

This photograph is well-known, because the tiger killed, a mature male, featured in a BBC-documentary. His adversary was a young adult, who later became known for both his temper and his size. Based on what I heard in the documentary, they met and fought more than once. After the last fight, the winner went for the cubs. They escaped, but the female was quite badly wounded defending them.

The tiger killed was by no means a small one. He was fit and muscular. Watch his fore-arms and the root of the tail:  

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

c - Male and female

No details known, but the photograph is a nice one with a lot of movement. At times, fights between males and females can be serious:

*This image is copyright of its original author

d - Male wounded after a fight

This male was photographed by Zwanepoel directly after a fight. Barka won the fight, but was so badly wounded (the mandibula was visible and he had numerous other serious injuries) that he had to be stitched up. Without treatment, chances are the infection would have finished him. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

e - The invincible sunk 

This is a male tiger known as 'Snarl'. He was long, tall, had a bad disposition and didn't like to be seen. He came out of nowhere and met the male Breeden knew so well. After the fight, he was found close to his stag, but a piece of skin was hanging over his eyes and he moved with great difficulty. He left his territory and was found dead some weeks later.

When his adversary had left, Snarl took over. At least one male cub of about eight months of age was killed and largely eaten. Later, he mated with different females. There was tension every time they met. Snarl was photographed many times after his victory. Every time he was, he showed his large canines. The longest they had seen. 

They thought Snarl would rule for a long time, but one day he met an old male. He proved Snarl wasn't invincible. Breeden didn't know if he was killed or not, but Snarl was never seen again. The old male was at least 550 pounds and the biggest she had seen. 

This is a picture of Snarl directly after the fight with the stocky male with the stag:

*This image is copyright of its original author

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