Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts

[Apex Titan]

An Amur tiger killed a prime, dominant adult male leopard in the Hunchun area of the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park. In an open area, the tiger attacked the leopard, and after a short fight, the leopard was killed and eaten. An investigation team of forest officials, CCTV reporters and biologists (including Feng Limin) arrived at the scene to examine the kill-site.

The leopard who was a resident dominant male (8 years old) of that area, was killed in his own territory:

The remains of the partially-eaten male leopard that was killed by the tiger:

*This image is copyright of its original author

The dominant adult male leopard No. 73, a well known individual, pictured on the right, was killed and eaten by the tiger:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The drag marks and footprints are seen near the site where the tiger attacked and killed the leopard:

*This image is copyright of its original author

In the northeast, the winter forest is solemn. Just after the winter solstice, in the Hunchun area of the Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park, several workers discovered a strong Amur leopard carcass on the snow, with signs of being eaten all over the body - this was a "murder".

With the help of the intelligent "sky, ground and air integrated monitoring system" of the Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park, the identity of the "victim" was quickly confirmed. The Amur leopard numbered 73 was killed. 

No. 73 Amur leopard is 8 years old. Image files show that it learned to hunt under the strict discipline of its mother when it was a child. As an adult, it established a territory in this area, fell in love three times, and has given birth to (sired) multiple cubs. 

"It was killed in its own 'home'." Feng Limin, deputy director of the Northeast Tiger and Leopard Monitoring and Research Center of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, said that traces of a fight and animal footprints near the crime scene gave the answer: the "murderer" was an adult male Siberian tiger.

Research shows that there is a huge difference in weight and strength between Siberian tigers and Siberian leopards, and Siberian leopards cannot compete with Siberian tigers under normal circumstances. Feng Limin introduced that during the long-term natural evolution process, the Amur leopard has misaligned itself with the Siberian tiger through its dietary niche and spatial and temporal niche, minimizing encounters with the Siberian tiger and achieving coexistence in the same habitat.

When Amur leopard No. 73 first established its territory, there were no other Siberian leopards or Amur tigers nearby. As the ecosystem further recovers, Siberian tigers, which have higher requirements for the living environment, begin to settle in this area. As the population of tigers and leopards increases, the probability of encountering tigers and leopards will also increase.

In the open area, the Siberian leopard No. 73, who was in his prime, failed to avoid the Siberian tiger's attack in time and ended his short life with regret.

http://www.news.cn/mrdx/2024-01/10/c_1310759624.htm

https://english.news.cn/20231228/7b82be5...20Thursday.

"There were obvious signs of a fight about 160 meters south, which should be the first scene of the hunt," Yu said. "The police confirmed that the leopard had been killed and eaten only a few hours earlier, and the body was not yet stiff."

Paw print measurements, analysis of fight marks and predation habits helped the team determine that the Amur leopard was killed by an adult male Siberian tiger. Pattern comparison confirmed that the Amur leopard was a member of the leopard group in the national park.

"This was an approximately 8 year old male leopard in its prime," Feng said. "After reaching adulthood, it expanded to this area and established its own territory. It belongs to the first batch of 'native residents' in this area and is the third generation of the Amur leopard population returning to China. It has produced multiple litters of cubs."

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202312/2...aa10a.html Reply