Felids Interactions - Interspecific Conflicts

[paul cooper]

"CHANDRAPUR: A fully grown male adult leopard was killed by a tiger reportedly in a territorial dispute under Bhadrawati forest range.

According to a press release issued here today by the forest department, the incident came to notice when one of the forest guards was on patrol in Kachrala beat under Bhadrawati forest range yesterday at about 4.30 pm.

On noticing the leopard's dead body in compartment number 204 under the Kachrala beat, pugmarks of a tiger were located around the spot.

It was also observed that the leopard's body had injuries and deep scars on its back, caused by tiger claws.

However, all body parts of the leopard including its claws, whiskers, canines and skin were intact.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Chandrapur Division) Sanjay Thakre, divisional forest officer S S Patil, Honorary Wildlife Warden Bandu Dhotre and others were present when the post mortem was conducted by a veterinary doctor at the spot."
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new...860079.cms

"Tiger kills leopard for intruding into its territory

LUCKNOW: The shrinking forest cover has brought even tigers and leopards face to face within protected areas. The law of the jungle maintains that if a Leopard trespasses onto a tiger's territory then it gets killed. That is what happened on Sunday when a leopard entered into the territory of the tiger and was killed by the latter, in North Kheri forest division.

The leopard was an adult and the pugmarks of the tiger around its body confirm that the leopard died while fighting with the tiger. According to KK Singh, divisional forest officer, North Kheri, the leopard could have been killed by the tiger when it trespassed on its territory.

The body of the leopard was found lying in Matehi village area of North Kheri on Sunday. The body was brought to Dhaurara range of the division for the post-mortem and further investigation. However, the tiger did not eat the leopard.

North kheri is almost adjacent to Nishangadha range of Katarniaghat division. Katarniaghat has a good population of leopards which keeps visiting North Kheri region.

The tussle between the tigers and leopards can also be explained in terms of the declining prey base. Both the big cats depend on wild boars and blue bulls for the diet but the forests are slowly getting devoid of these animals. The leopard was a victim of this battle for supremacy."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city...914605.cms

"A leopard aged about two-and-half-years was found dead in Muthodi range of Bhadra tiger reserve on Monday morning. Forest officials said the death was the result of a tiger attack. This is a rare case because the two don’t usually engage in fights.
However, experts pointed out that it does happen rarely.  Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BK Singh pointed out that the postmortem reports revealed that the cause of the leopard’s death was due to a tiger attack.
“Such things are not common as leopards are swift and the tigers cannot reach them,” he said. “However, in this case, the leopard did have a fight with the tiger,” he added.
The leopard had bled profusely and was injured in the liver. There were pounce marks on the carcass and injuries on its back and abdomen.
The report revealed that the leopard was aged around two-and-half years and was a female. Though the tiger had not killed the leopard, there were signs of fight in the vicinity of the carcass.
Noted tiger scientist and director of Centre for Wildlife Studies, K Ullas Karanth, said, “There have been cases in the past where a lion or a tiger have killed a leopard. This happens due to inter-specific competition. Usually a tiger finds it hard to catch a leopard as the latter climbs trees and escape. But once it gets hold of a leopard, the tiger kills it. This is because the leopards are 3-4 times smaller than tigers. Similar killings have been spotted in Khana and Ranthambore. Once a Y radio-collared tigress had held a leopard on a tree for an entire night, and the next day the leopard was found dead.”
About 20 tigers and 40 leopards are estimated to habituate the Bhadra tiger reserve."
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report...se-1499213

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