This is the summary of various questions my daughter has asked me about Tiger behaviour and interactions.
🐯 Tiger Behaviour & Interaction – FAQ
1. What happens when two tigresses from the same family tree meet?
- Typically, adult female tigers avoid direct conflict if territories overlap.
- Younger sisters may disperse to avoid competition, but adjacent territories are common.
- Example: Ridhi and Siddhi, daughters of Arrowhead, occupy separate parts of Zone 4.
2. What if two tigresses compete for the same territory?
- Usually, dominance is established through scent marking, roaring, and patrols.
- Physical fights are rare unless resources are extremely limited.
- The weaker tigress typically relocates or avoids the core area.
3. What if a tigress encounters a male not from her territory?
- She may avoid him, or allow mating if he’s dominant and established.
- Intruding males are challenged or chased if they threaten cubs or territory.
4. How do tigresses interact with cubs from other tigers?
- Tigresses are protective of their own cubs and may attack unknown cubs.
- Cubs rarely interact with non-sibling cubs unless mothers tolerate them temporarily.
5. What happens if a mother loses her cubs?
- Mother may try another litter, often after a seasonal or yearly cycle.
- Example: Sultana’s second litter did not survive; she had a previous litter of 3 cubs that did survive.
6. What if cubs are left alone temporarily?
- Mothers leave cubs only briefly for hunting.
- Cubs hide in dense cover and rarely leave the den.
- Tigresses like Arrowhead and Noor were observed moving cubs cautiously along forest corridors.
7. Do males and females share zones?
- Male territories overlap multiple female territories, but female territories are largely exclusive.
- Example: T‑120 (Ganesh) fathered cubs of Riddhi, whose territory overlaps parts of the male’s range.
8. How do sisters like Riddhi and Siddhi interact?
- Once separated, sisters rarely meet in the wild, but may be aware of each other via scent marking.
- They usually avoid confrontation unless resources are scarce.
9. What if a tigress is injured or sick?
- She may reduce movement, hunting, and cub-rearing.
- Opportunistic females may challenge her for territory if she is weak.
- Cubs may be more vulnerable until she recovers or disperses them to safer cover.
10. How do tigers handle overlapping territories from multiple females?
- They mark boundaries via scrapes, scent, and vocalisation.
- Conflicts are minimized by temporal and spatial avoidance, especially in high-prey zones.
11. What if a dominant tigress dies?
- Her territory may be contested by subordinate females or dispersing daughters.
- Example: After Arrowhead’s death, her cubs or neighbouring females like Noor and Riddhi or their cubs may expand into her Zone 2 territory.
12. Can cubs survive without a mother?
- Survival chances are extremely low; tigress maternal care is crucial for hunting skills, protection, and territory learning.
13. How do tigers respond to human presence?
- Most tigers, including Ranthambore tigresses, avoid humans but are habituated to safari vehicles in core zones.
- Behaviour includes alertness, hiding, or moving away quietly.
- Cubs may remain hidden until mother signals safety.
14. What if multiple males are in the same area?
- Dominant males defend territory through marking, vocalising, and chasing rivals.
- Subordinate males may mate opportunistically only when the dominant male is absent.
- If another male tiger tries to mate in a females territory and the female fights with the male and the dominant male finds out when the fight is on, he will join the fight and join the female’s team