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Strategy of Female Tigers to Avoid Infanticide


Affiliations
1 Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India
2 Boone and Crockett Program in Wildlife Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
 

In felids, mortality caused by dominant males can affect life history characteristics, demography and reproductive success. When a dominant male is removed, an incoming male may kill offspring sired by the previous male to induce the resident female into oestrus. We had the opportunity to observe the infanticide avoidance responses of female tigers (Panthera tigris) to incoming males in the core area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), Rajasthan, during 2008-2010. In one case, following the disappearance of a dominant male tiger (TM-12) from the established territory of a female tiger (TF-13), the female tiger, accompanied by two cubs, immediately moved approximately 20 km away into riverine areas outside the protected area of RTR. In another case, a female (TF-04) died from a battle with a male while defending her cubs. These observations reveal the attempts of female tigers to avoid infanticide. Observations and results from behavioural decisions made by tigers are important to understand the species and the factors that facilitate their conservation.

Keywords

Camera Trap, Female Tigers, Infanticide Avoidance, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
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  • Strategy of Female Tigers to Avoid Infanticide

Abstract Views: 301  |  PDF Views: 130

Authors

Randeep Singh
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India
Parag Nigam
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India
Qamar Qureshi
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India
Kalyanasundaram Sankar
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India
Paul R. Krausman
Boone and Crockett Program in Wildlife Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
Surendra Prakash Goyal
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box # 18, Dehradun 248 001, India

Abstract


In felids, mortality caused by dominant males can affect life history characteristics, demography and reproductive success. When a dominant male is removed, an incoming male may kill offspring sired by the previous male to induce the resident female into oestrus. We had the opportunity to observe the infanticide avoidance responses of female tigers (Panthera tigris) to incoming males in the core area of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), Rajasthan, during 2008-2010. In one case, following the disappearance of a dominant male tiger (TM-12) from the established territory of a female tiger (TF-13), the female tiger, accompanied by two cubs, immediately moved approximately 20 km away into riverine areas outside the protected area of RTR. In another case, a female (TF-04) died from a battle with a male while defending her cubs. These observations reveal the attempts of female tigers to avoid infanticide. Observations and results from behavioural decisions made by tigers are important to understand the species and the factors that facilitate their conservation.

Keywords


Camera Trap, Female Tigers, Infanticide Avoidance, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.



DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv107%2Fi9%2F1595-1597