AboutRaphael Heng Expertise Anything about Big Cats, especially Tigers. You can also ask me any questions or doubts you have about the organisation Save China's Tigers as i am a volunteer there, How the tigers affect the ecosystem in Africa etc. Questions about any feline re-wilding projects could be ask here, eg: Asiatic lion re-wilding. I can answer questions in both Chinese and English, questions on interspecies conflict regarding felines can also be answered.
Experience I am a volunteer of the Charitable Organisation, Save China's Tigers. The Organisation aims to save the South China Tiger via re-wilding training in Africa and releasing captive trained tigers back into the China's wild.
Organizations Save China's Tigers
Publications Wikipedia.
Education/Credentials Student, currently studying about Animal biology, specifically on felines.
Expert: Raphael Heng Date: 3/23/2008 Subject: Tigers in Bandhavgarh
Question Hi Raphael and welcome back mate!
1. From what I am heard you can often see tigers often in Bandhavgarh why is that? Are they less elusive in Bandhavgahr?
2. I have also heard that lions are more aggressive than tigers,because the fight and die more often in territorial fights is this really true?
3. I know this question has been asked before. But I just wanted to know do you know why some tigers are very aggressive. Some are less some are more do you know the reason? Is it maybe that some tigers are insecure that they only way to survive is to be very aggressive?
Thanks and best regards/Tiger Lover
Answer Hello again Tiger Lover, long time no see!
1)Well, your answer is only partly correct. Its been said that since many tourists visit bandhavgarh, the Tigers have learn to get use to humans and know that humans aren't a threat thus being slightly less elusive. And another reason being that Bandhavgarh is said to have a high population density of Tigers, thus it is easier to see a tiger there compared to other Tiger reserve that has lower tiger population density.
2)Actually most people would say it depends on the individual, we can't say that all Tigers are less aggressive than lions , it really depends on the individual, some tigers may be more aggressive than some lions and vice versa. However on a general view, i do agree that Lions are perhaps more aggressive than tigers.
Actually, Tigers and Lions rarely die from territorial fights, because territorial fights are said to be less intense compared to fights for mates(in the lion's case, fights for pride). Lions does die more often in fighting for mates compared to Tigers. It is said that 67% of male Lions die from pride takeover fights, while 25% of Tigers die from fights for females.
3)Well, it is just like human's character, different people have different character, bad-tempered, cheerful etc etc. As you should know, characters are built since young, for example if a tiger was born a runt, it would be smaller than its sisters and brothers thus always being dominanted and may result in it not being that aggressive, its character is shaped that way. On the other hand, if a tiger was born the largest of his litter, he would be the dominant one who eats firsts and thus he should be more dominant and aggressive when he reaches adulthood.
But it isn't always like that, a runt could become very aggressive when it reaches adulthood, so aggression really varies, not only from individuals to individuals, but also from time to time.
