The Mystery of the Tiger: Why Tigers Are the Kings of the Forest
The tiger is a top cat species.
They can eat almost any animal they can see, but they have 3 ‘no-kill’ rules.
Although tigers have the most powerful predatory ability, they are also principled forest kings, compared to some ‘large primates’, tigers sometimes appear more gentlemanly.
Tigers will not kill their own children, so-called tiger poison not eat children. Tigers not only will not kill their own children, but also will not kill cubs.
Male tigers can smell the scent of their own children.
Even if a male tiger has never seen its offspring, when it encounters a cub with its own bloodline, it will not kill it even if it is hungry.
And when encountering cubs with pregnant tigresses, if it is in its own territory, male tigers will only drive them away. If the encounter is outside the territory, male tigers will avoid these tigresses.
But when encountering other male tigers or their children, tigers will not be polite, at this time tigers will show their tiger power.
Tigers will not kill defeated tigers.
As long as a defeated tiger leaves its territory, tigers will not chase it to death.
But if this defeated tiger once again enters the ‘winner tiger’s’ territory and initiates a challenge, the tiger may not be polite.
Animal observers have found that about 85% of tigers will not kill their defeated tigers. Tigers that have been killed by other tigers for fighting over territory are often those that repeatedly challenge.
Although tigers are the top hunters, there are significant differences between different breeds.
The weight of Northeast tigers can exceed 300 kilograms, but for South China tigers, 200 kilograms is already a large size.
Tigers have such power because they are efficient.
Tigers are one of the most efficient hunters.
Tigers can convert as much of the food they eat into energy, and among large carnivorous animals, tigers rank among the top in energy conversion. After a hunt, tigers may not eat for 6~8 days.
Tigers are efficient hunters, scientists have found that the energy consumed by a tiger during one hunt is only 75% of that of other large cat predators. If in a suitable environment such as the jungle, tigers can hunt more ‘easily’.
There are also many mysterious sayings about tigers, and tigers are often regarded as mysterious and powerful animals in the places where they live.
There are 9 about tiger’s mysterious sayings:
1. Tigers can create ‘tiger wind’ to frighten prey, so that they can hunt. Scientists have found that tigers will indeed erect their hair and secrete a substance before hunting. This substance can be mixed into the air. When small animals smell this substance, they are prone to sluggish reactions. For herbivores, this substance can also cause them to ‘temporarily become numb’.
2. Tigers can observe changes in airflow: Animal scholars have conducted a series of studies, finding that tigers do not see airflow with their eyes but hear airflow changes. Tigers can hear the subtle friction of airflow movement, which is one of the tiger’s most powerful weapons.
3. Tigers can cultivate their subordinates: Scientists have found that tigers will not completely eliminate animals in their territory, but will try to leave the descendants of every animal. It seems that ‘some animals, if eaten this time, may not exist in the future’.
Even if tigers ‘like’ some animals, they will take care of them. Scientists observed that tigers will pull certain tree fruits from trees, and tigers will quickly leave. Scientists found that after a while, some small animals came to eat this tree fruit. And tigers did this just to ‘raise these animals to be fatter and more numerous’.
4. Tigers have their own written symbols: In the past, people believed that tigers had their own symbols. Scientists later found that the ‘similar characters’ left by tigers on trees and stones were not symbols, but rather the ‘personalized mark’ left by each tiger. Every tiger's paw print left on the tree will be different.
5. Male tigers are not responsible for raising cubs: This is a misunderstanding. In fact, in humans raising tigers, male tigers will also care for cubs. In the wild, male tigers’ territories are generally adjacent to female tigers’ territories. Male tigers will not directly care for cubs, but when female tigers do not have enough food, they will drive some of their territory’s animals to the female tigers’ territories.
6. Tigers can smell a person’s ‘goodness and evil’ : Scientists found that tigers can actually smell a person’s health condition. Tigers’ sense of smell is not very developed, but they can distinguish the freshness of food. Among herbivores, tigers can distinguish ‘which animals are not healthy’, and in selective situations, tigers will prey on healthier animals.
7. Tigers will not let other animals witness their death: Tigers will start looking for hidden places half a year before they die. Tigers generally will not let other animals or people see their ‘end’ point. However, scientists also found that tigers can find the place where their mother tiger died, and tigers will go to this place after they grow up, but they will just turn around and leave silently.
9. Tigers will actively attack humans: Animal scholars have specially studied this problem. They found that wild tigers generally evade humans when they encounter them. Unless in a hungry situation, tigers will not have any interest in contacting humans. Tigers do not like humans very much, and most tigers will try to avoid humans.
Tigers, with their own powerful strength, have become the kings of the forest.
In fact, if you leave the jungle and mountains, tigers’ combat effectiveness can hardly be fully exerted.
Tigers are top cat species, and they are also loved by people.
