Tiger Attack

Panthera Tigris Corbetti I wasn't aware of the characteristics of this species of tiger. However, I researched the topic. Some aspects were quite revealing.

This species of tiger has another, more common, term - the Indo-Chinese tiger. It is given that the males average 2.7 metres (9 feet) in length with the weight for that gender being 180 kilos (400 lbs). In 1952 it was claimed there were 5000 tigers still roaming the jungles of Malaysia, whereas, at present, [2001] there are only 500 of this species remaining. Tiger hunting was officially banned in Malaysia in 1972 and, fortunately, the tiger has had continued protection since 1976.

The Associated Press reported on the death of an Indo-Chinese tiger by most unusual circumstances. This occurred in the eastern State of Pahang where a Wild Life Official stated a tiger was crossing the Ganting-Karok Highway and inadvertently was hit by a bus and killed. The whiskers, testicles, claws and teeth of this 129 kilo (285 lbs) animal were missing from the carcass within a day, which testifies to the fact that there are persons who still hanker after age-old Chinese remedies using potions derived from tigers. This callous act was committed within only 80 kilometres of the Capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The tiger's character has been explained as shy and this facet may be the reason why many people have spent extraordinary lengths of time in the jungle without ever seeing one single example. The extraordinary colours of the tiger's coat provide a maximum for camouflage. The tiger dislikes daylight and being in the open where he is most conspicuous. He prefers the shadows, moonlight, dusk or dawn. Against this background, or dense jungle shade, his stripes blend in with the surroundings so markedly that to locate or even sight the tiger is extremely difficult. Just to glimpse an outline of this beast's body is unique, but it is sometimes impossible to distinguish the face with its opera-bouffe markings mingled with the jungle foliage. The tiger also deliberately hides itself because of a withdrawn behavioural pattern. The lion, for instance, has a more bravura kind of attitude when dealing with its own environmental competitors, including man. The relationship of other jungle animals to the tiger is one of intimidation. However, the relationship with man and the tiger is a diverse and interesting study. The tiger respects man, but he also fears him. Except when he turns into a man-eater.

According to P. D. Stracey, in his book The World of Animals: Tigers", he states that the tiger can legitimately claim to be described as intelligent. When it takes to hunting man, it shows an almost diabolical understanding of human nature, its actions suggesting a considerable power of reasoning. Yet, the tiger sometimes behaves in a manner, which gives the impression of obstinacy bordering on foolishness.

In the book, The Tigers of Trenggau, the author, A. Locke, tells the story of a Malay sergeant of police who, while sitting alone at dusk on a river bank, experienced the 'kiss of death', as he called it. A tiger stared him in the face at such close quarters that he felt its breath on his face. As it could have killed him and yet didn't do so, the sergeant didn't care to look at a dead tiger and preferred not to help anybody kill one.

It is categorical that a tiger is sly and cunning. However, this trait has been mistakenly interpreted as one of cowardliness. If a soldier retreats from battle to fight another day, it is not a display of cowardliness, but rather one of strategy. Is it not? The tiger's strength is colossal, and his ferocious attack, including his speed is well publicised, as is his sharp talons and large front teeth. His coat markings are equivalent to a thumbprint, and therefore, his identity. For no two tigers have the same markings. A tiger usually has a triangular beat of roughly 100 kilometres in area that he 'works' in his hunt for food. This is his territory and claims for it create fierce battles between adversaries. It is most unlikely that two tigers would 'work' the same territory. First, and foremost - there would be insufficient food to keep them both alive.

The aborigines strongly believe in animism. That everything has a spirit - even the trees! High on this list was the Spirit of the Tiger. This relationship between the Malayan aborigines and the tiger was something that held a special, almost religious (or perhaps, demonic, to some ways of thinking) place in their lives. The aborigines held this beast in such great awe that to offend the tiger's spirit was a guaranteed death wish. They believe that a sympathetic feeling exists between certain human beings and tigers and this perhaps, explains the presence of 'gentlemen' between both classes. They also hesitate to divulge information regarding a kill or molestation by a tiger in fear of any retaliation. Their Spirit World is very real to them!

Then there is the story told by P.D. Stracey, of a Malayan who was cycling along near the forest and in rounding a corner on a steep slope he suddenly ran right into a tiger. Both the tiger and the man were too startled to react in any but an instinctive manner. The tiger reared up on its hind legs to strike the man down but then dropped to all fours and turned away. The man stood rooted to the spot, holding his cycle. After the tiger had gone a metre or two away, it turned and again reared up with a frightening noise but seeing the man still standing there, too paralysed with fear and shock to move, it turned away again. It repeated this threat once more and then, apparently, satisfied that there was no danger from the motionless man, finally made off.

There is one thing to remember about tigers . . . there is no such thing as a tame tiger! They are still, instinctively, a wild animal at heart and can kill in an instant.

An opportunity later came about, whereby I was fortunate enough to meet and converse with an experienced wild animal hunter who had personal first-hand experience with many man-eaters. He told me that extremely few people survive an attack by a man-eating tiger, let alone live long enough to relate the event.

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