Fifty Years of Tiger Pheromone Research

The results of our 50 years of tiger pheromone research have been summed up in the larger context of research in this field. In order to understand the perspective, tiger behaviour, such as that of territory and home range, the possible sources of tiger pheromone as revealed through observation, the chemistry of putative pheromones and the expression of 'self' and 'non-self' by individuals, the fixatives of pheromones and the possible mechanism of stamping of individuality in the pheromonal potpourri have been discussed. The implications of some of the putative pheromone molecules in genomics have been indicated. Our present limitations in understanding the essence of the problem and some future probable guidelines have also been discussed.