ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[Apex Titan]

I posted this recent interview of Pavel Fomenko back in March, 2022. Which was part of the "Tiger Educational Program". But unfortunately, the video was in Russian with no English subtitles translations. I did, however, get Pavel Fomenko's words accurately translated by a Russian poster I know. 

Now a YouTube channel named "BIL" has uploaded the video of Pavel Fomenko's interview with full English subtitles. In this video, Fomenko talks about tigers vs bears, the tiger's weaponry, hunting methods, and other interesting behavior.

Why are Tigers called the "Kings of the Taiga"?

In the video (7:24 mark) the reporter asks Fomenko, "Tell me why are tigers called the kings of the taiga?". 

Pavel Fomenko says, because in nature, there is a (ecological) pyramid and at the top stands a specialized (apex) predator, and everything (all other animals) below it. "So there is a king there, a king at the top", he says.

The entire structure and stability below (health state of tiger prey species & habitat) depend on how steadily the tiger stands at the top, he says. He adds, "that is why we need the tiger, one of the most important elements of the biocenosis, one of the most important elements of the wild nature of the Russian Far East."

The Amur tiger is the undisputed apex predator and dominates the ecosystem of the Ussuri taiga, hence its title "King" and "Lord" of the taiga.

Hunting Methods & Weaponry

At 3:20 in the video, Fomenko talks about the tigers weaponry and hunting methods. He says the tigers claws are sharp and curved, designed for grabbing their prey, whereas bears have dull, blunt claws. This is also noticeable on tree scratches and marks. The tiger's scratches and marks are sharper (deeper) than a bear's scratches, who has blunt claws, thus a bear inflicts less damage.

Fomenko says there are several methods of killing for a tiger. In some cases, the tiger bites the top of the neck, and in some cases, the tiger bites the bottom of the neck. And with such bites, the tiger bites off arteries, and even the cervical spine is bitten through.

At 5:38 mark, he also mentions the incident of the famous tiger "Uporny" who was killed by another tiger in the Khabarovsk region. Fomenko had to examine this dead tiger, and said "it was creepy". He states: "A tiger, with its teeth, its eyes, its claws, its power, is a real killing machine, and should be treated as such. Its a machine, a killing apparatus."

Who is Stronger, a Tiger or a Bear?

At 8:25 in the video, the reporter asks Pavel Fomenko, who is stronger, a tiger or a bear? 

Fomenko states: "Judging by the fact that I quite often find bear claws in tiger excrement, here is your answer to who is stronger."

Fomenko then adds that tiger vs bear fights do happen, but quite rarely. But, of course, the tiger hunts bears for a tasty, fatty steak, he says.

Tigers Killing Bears and Sleeping in their Dens

At 10:15 in the video, Fomenko is asked where do tiger families (tigress with cubs) live? Are they looking for dens, caves, fallen trees? 

Fomenko says that tigers are unpretentious, they live and sleep wherever they feel comfortable. They can sleep in old bear dens, and even in new bear dens.

Its mentioned by the reporter and Fomenko, that tigers will even pull bears out of their dens, kill and eat them, and then sleep in the killed bears dens. So the tigress finds food (bears) and shelter for her cubs at the same time. By doing this, a male tiger also gets to eat one of his favorite foods (bears) and finds a comfy place to sleep.

https://vestiprim.ru/news/ptrnews/120691...usk-4.html

All episodes:

https://vestiprim.ru/programs/tiger-educ...l-program/

Pavel Fomenko is a field biologist, scientist, ranger, game warden, forensic specialist, and a renowned leading tiger expert who is the Chief coordinator of the rare species department of the Amur branch of WWF Russia. He lives in the forest among the tigers and dedicates his life to protecting and studying Amur tigers, tracking poachers, and monitoring tiger numbers. He's also a surgeon who performs intensive operations on injured Amur tigers.

Fomenko is no doubt, one of the greatest Amur tiger experts and 'protectors' of our time.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/ru...ns-to-work

https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/ti...-detective

Pavel Fomenko, "The Tiger Protector of Russia":

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