Hunting &
Feeding - Page 1:
Concealment | 2&3:
Technique | 4:
Failures | 5:
The Lethal Bite |
| 6:
Feeding Before Making The Kill
| 7:
The Menu | 8:
The Food Chain | 9&10:
Feeding |
11&12:
In Captivity
Leftovers:Tigers usually leave certain parts of large kills untouched including the head, legs, main bones and the coarse hide; the carcass itself will be stripped clean with the exception of the viscera and rumen, (the first stomach found in cud-chewing grazing animals). In fact, many tigers are put off their food if the evil smelling rumen makes contact with the flesh. A punctured stomach and rumen almost certainly points to a jackal or leopard attack. In the case of small kills, the tiger consumes everything with the exception of antlers and hooves. A tigress will allow any cubs to eat first and they squabble noisily over their meal. Adult tigers feed quietly and the only sound is that of bones crunching. Even this noise does not happen as often as it might and with large prey it is rare for any felid to break the bones of the victim whilst eating. Any 'leftovers' are covered to discourage scavengers and the cat will return later to have a second meal. In some cases the tiger may prevent scavenging by sleeping protectively on the carcass. |
Potential for disease:As tigers eat they are made vulnerable to diseases carried by their kills, such as rabies and distemper. These illnesses generally do not spread because tigers seldom come into contact with each other. Between meals and hunting tigers mainly rest and drink. Assuming a kill lasts two days a tiger will not normally seek to kill again until the fourth day, though if the opportunity arises they will take it.
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Hunting &
Feeding - Page 1:
Concealment | 2&3:
Technique | 4:
Failures | 5:
The Lethal Bite | |