Book Review

[Dr Panthera]

(01-09-2016, 05:01 AM)peter Wrote: Many thanks for the reviews, Dr. Panthera. Very informing.

I have two questions. The first one is about morphology. Those of us interested would appreciate the specifics of wild big cats that were measured or weighed by biologists. The reason is data are hard to come by. Some of us want to compare then with now in order to find out if things have changed in, say, the last century or so. The data will be appreciated by those working with captive big cats as well. 

The second is about mortality of cubs, adolescents and adults. The percentages mentioned are a bit rough. Any details known? Are there differences between species and regions? And if so, why? Thanks in advance.

Thank you Peter.
As you say, data is hard to come by, McDougal's estimates are in line with Schaller's and many other biologists a good size tiger/lion is 180-200 kg, he does not elaborate on how he came up with that range, as for growing cubs he had more details.
When I look at historic data and current data for Amur tigers, Indochinese tigers, and Asiatic lions I see a considerable decrease as extensive hunting wiped out most larger individuals, and poor current conditions limited the emergence of larger individuals, all three cats here have a wild population of less than 500 individuals...possibly 100-150 adult males only, Bengal tigers and African lions are more numerous and the statistically larger sample continues to provide large specimens comparable to hunting records.
As for mortality of cubs , I think in the 60's and 70's it was mainly informed estimates ,without radio-collaring mothers, observe them when they give birth and monitor the growth/survival of cubs, you can not come up with an accurate percentage.Most cub mortality is in the first two months before they emerge from the den.
Subsequent research though proves his estimate to be reasonable, it is interesting how cub mortality is linked to the conditions of habitat, prey, predators, and infanticide, in an undisturbed habitat tigers will increase in numbers until they saturate it and then the number stabilizes the excess of surviving cubs migrate else where or get chased away by territorial males and the optimal number stays constant.
All of McDougal's findings are for Chitwan tigers and although he talks a bit about Kahna tigers but his data is for Chitwan tigers. Reply