Big cat and Bear tale

[Shadow]

(03-12-2020, 08:40 AM)Rishi Wrote:

(03-11-2020, 11:48 PM)Diamir2 Wrote: "The only thing that saves the bear is the hair on the body, because tiger doesn't get a grip," Dr Andheria explains.

That this without saying (probably for lion's mane too). Conpared to body, sloth have larger neck & back hair than any other bear.

(03-11-2020, 11:45 PM)GuateGojira Wrote: Yes, the tiger looks massive although shorter. Maybe the double the size of the female bear or a little more. Even then, a bigger (and more decided) tiger will make a shorter work, even for such a defensive female.

That bear was a small specimen too. Large female bears can be larger than an average tigress (including fur), probably not heavier though. If they can keep their throats safe from a choke hold, bears can tire out any cat. It's basically a race against time for them. They have a tendency to go for eyes & nose in attack victims, may be evolutionary behaviour.

I found a rare one from Nagarhole in South India. (TripAdvisor) 

*This image is copyright of its original author

(03-12-2020, 12:38 AM)Shadow Wrote:

(03-11-2020, 11:06 PM)GuateGojira Wrote: So, it is pretty clear that tigers and sloth bears will try to aviod each other, but if the tiger has the change it will hunt and eat the bear, which means that tiger normally dominate over the sloth bear, but the bear been also very agressive can return the attack and like some videos show, the tiger will retreat, even adults. 

That what Fateh Singh observed was interesting. It feels quite safe to assume, that sloth bears (with time and experience, so adults) have ability to notice if they meet young tigers which show insecurity and take advantage of it. That arrogant behavior feels right only if really big male sloth bear with a lot of experience and tiger showing some signs of insecurity. I assume, that big, because he has to have some confidence, that he can defend himself properly and get away if situation backfires.
Or then he was just one crazy bear with real mental issues.... that kind of surprising incidents are part of it why wildlife is so interesting.

I'd say Guate is on the money here... I just binged through the whole thread yesterday & now it feels like their whole species is "one crazy bear with real mental issues". 
They do not initiate anything by themselves (other than being the only species that sometimes think its a good idea to drink from waterholes with tigers in sitting it) but when a tiger creeps close to it they invariably charge without thinking. 

Standoffs rarely escalate though, even when if a young tiger/tigress is crounching down or backing away.

...

Also, I see pretty serious bloody gashes on Matkasur. He could've because the injuries weren't worth the meal. 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

:) I agree 100% that sloth bears aren´t there looking for trouble. They just act as they have to when threatened. They live there with tigers and leopards and dholes, there is no room to be soft when threatened, that would be simply suicidal.

When I wrote, that the bear which Fateh Singh observed was either knowing very well what it was doing or then mental case, that was of course half joke. But that kind of behavior is very dangerous, so half serious.

Then again their nonchalant behavior is simply funny to watch so often, it´s interesting to see how it can behave in such ways as it does. One of my absolutely favorite animals, let it be and it minds it´s own business :) Reply