Inter-species Conflict

Interspecies Conflict - Page 1&2: How Likely Are Lion/Tiger Encounters? | 3: Fight Rituals |
4,5&6: Historic Fights
| 7: Modern Lions & Tigers | 8: Size Comparisons9&10: Bears | 11: Snakes & Crocs
|
12: A Game -- The Crocodile Challenge | 13: The Ultimate Carnivore | 14: Feedback


Sloth bears:

In India, the rather shaggy sloth bear has been known to steal tiger kills, though it's to be admitted that the Bengal tiger usually comes off the winner in these challenges.

Brown and Asiatic black bears:

The Amur tiger shares the forest with a powerful neighbor: the brown bear. A close relative of the Alaskan grizzly, the brown bear lacks the ferocity of its cousin, but can grow larger, with big males regularly reaching 1500 lb.  

A second species of bear, the smaller Asiatic black bear, also lives in the same location. These weigh in at up to 350 lb and often seem small from a distance. In fact, that statement is true of all bears. The small appearance comes from the fact that bears are round-bodied and long-slung. Couple this with short thick legs, in relation to body size, and you have that look of a small compact animal.

But that same bear will tower over a man when he rises onto his hind legs. Incidentally, many people think bears are short-sighted, but this is not correct; experiments have shown bears have keen eyesight along with excellent hearing and smell.

There is a great deal of interaction between the brown bear and the Amur tiger. Tigers and bears are born enemies. Whenever possible a tiger will drive away a bear, or try to kill and eat it. A male tiger will even attack a female brown bear with young. Animal biologists once spotted a big male on a freshly killed brown bear cub. The mother bear and her second cub had escaped by climbing a tree.

The killing of male brown bears is very rare. In such cases the tiger usually takes the bear by surprise during hibernation.

These two opponents are very wary of a fight. A fully grown, male brown bear, weighing up to 1500 lb, presents a formidable foe to even the biggest male Amur tiger. Large brown bears even follow tigers and will take over their kills; especially at the end of winter when there is little food around.

(Continued Page 10)


Interspecies Conflict - Page 1&2: How Likely Are Lion/Tiger Encounters? | 3: Fight Rituals |
4,5&6: Historic Fights
| 7: Modern Lions & Tigers | 8: Size Comparisons9&10: Bears | 11: Snakes & Crocs
|
12: A Game -- The Crocodile Challenge | 13: The Ultimate Carnivore | 14: Feedback

Mating | Early Days | Raising Cubs | Hunting & Captive Feeding | Water Play | Sleeping | Tree Climbing
The Man-Eater | Myths & Facts | Conflict with other Animals

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Photography With Thanks To Media Graphics (Photo 1)
John White (Photo 2)
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