There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
08-02-2016, 11:20 PM( This post was last modified: 08-02-2016, 11:21 PM by peter )
Those who know big cats, agree they are observative and inquisitive animals. That's why lions visit your camp at night and that's why cougars and (Amur) tigers in particular sometimes follow researchers, rangers and locals. Tiger Aliman, a young adult who just bought a farm, wants to know about the neighbourhood. Of course he wants to know, as he is on his own. When you're on your own, you're always a bit vulnarable. The reason is you can never be sure about anyone and anything. Things can change very quickly and you don't want to be late. Being sloppy almost compares to a crime in the forest. This is why adult wild big cats like good information.
The Bengkulu male, at 14 and 130 kg., is a bit heavier than the average I found for 6 males shot nearly a century ago. Although not long, he's quite robust and stocky. For their length, male Sumatran tigers have quite large skulls. One often reads big Pantanal and Venezuelan jaguars almost compare to Sumatran male tigers. In weight, some do, but the skulls I measured say there is a difference of 5-10% in greatest total length. Sumatran tigers also have wider rostrums and longer and more robust canines. For their size, they could have the longest of all big cats.
The dark orange ground typical for many wild Sumatran tigers is quite something to see. Tiger Giring is no exception to the general rule, but he adds something rarely seen in other subspecies: anger. There is a war going on over there. I remember the BBC-documentary on Sumatra. I also remember the tigers who were captured in order to prevent problems between them and the local farmers. Nearly all of them were very angry. Not a result of fear, but real anger. This too is typical for many wild Sumatran tigers.
It's very good to see that the teams responsible for information and peace are up and running in Sumatra. The people involved care about the tigers. The more you know, the more you'll understand. Let's hope the forest will remain.
Very interesting post and great pictures, Phatio. Many thanks.
The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
