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| Reddy, H.S.; Srinivasulu, C.; Rao, K.T. | |
| Prey selection by the Indian tiger (_Panthera tigris tigris_) in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, India | |
| 2004 Mammalian Biology (69): 384-391 | |
Very little is known about prey selection by the Indian tiger Panthera tigris tigris in tropical dry decidous forests or in wild herbivore-depleted habitats with high livestock pressures. We undertook a short-term study in a large south Indian tiger reserve and examined two intensive study areas (SA's) from Octobe 1998-June 1999. In each area, herbivore sightings were collected, and wild prey and livestock kills documented. Chital, wild boar and sambar were the most abundant among the wild herbivores in the study area. Scat analysis revealed wild boar (_Sus scrofa_) being the most common prey followed by chital (_Axis axis_) and sambar (Rusa unicolor). Livestock comprised less than 7% of diet intake. Here, the tigers consumed a lower mean prey mass (56.3 kg) than in other reserves. Our study suggests that in tropical dry deciduous forests with low natural prey density, smaller prey species, and high livestock biomass, tigers preppreferentially kill smaller prey and generally avoid livestock predation. |
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