Tiger Directory

[GuateGojira]

(08-12-2014, 09:16 PM)'Pckts' Wrote: I just got some info on T18 and T12

This is from Tiger Trackers FB page in response to my question about T12 alleged weight

"We apologise for the inordinate delay in our response since we somehow happened to miss out on reading your message ! While T-18 could well have been in the 160-180 Kg category, there is no way a 7 yr old muscular Male like T-12 could weigh in at 170 Kgs ! Usage of the obsolete suspension hook type of weighing scales in the field by the forest personnel instead of the reliable Digital scale is also another reason for inaccurate values being reported. We reckon he was at least 200 - 220 Kgs at the time of getting translocated to Sariska. His height @ shoulder blades, muscular frame, overall length as well the size of his face clearly indicate his weight to be in that range. Cheers !"

Do you have any information on this @Vijay?

Im curious if T12 or T18 where actually weighed.
 

 

This is a very good information. Although the data on the weights of the Sariska tigers seems reliable, according with Dr Sunquist (yes, I send him the figures and he think they are reliable [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]), the only weight that actually sounds weird is the 170 kg for the adult male. However, this is the figure reported officially for the second male and for that reason I use it.

Now, this communication shows that in fact, that male weighed probably much more, proving again that male Bengal tigers in the mainland weigh no less than c.185 kg empty belly (this small figure came from the Dakre male (T-102) from Nepal, weight baited was of 200 kg).

What disturb me is the fact, a very well know fact, that most people in the field is using bad scales and obsolete methods to weigh tigers in India. The same also happen in Africa, when the Crater lions are been weighed with incorrect and old scales!!! [img]images/smilies/angry.gif[/img]

It seems that the only reliable weights, in modern days, are those from Russia, which used new spring scales and now they are using digital scales, like true professionals in the field. In this form the record of 212 kg for Luke (Russia) is much more reliable than the record of 235 kg from the Crater (Tanzania) or these 220 kg Bengals from Sariska.

Thank you very much for this clarification Pckts, then it will be correct to drop the male weight of 170 kg from the list, although this means that we have only ONE modern record from Ranthambore-Sariska (male of 220 kg).
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