What do tigers eat in the jungle?

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Chittal - tiger prey - Photo by monojussi
Tigers eat anything in the jungle - whatever they can catch. But tigers need large prey to survive long term. Here is a list of prey items from Nagarole NP in India, Royal Bardia NP in Nepal and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand, assessed from scats (feces).

Tigers don't just live in jungle. They live in a wide variety of habitats including lowland evergreen forest, monsoonal forest, scrub oak, birch woods of Siberia (Siberian tiger) and the mangrove swamps of the Sundarbans (India and Bangladesh). The tiger is forced to live in these swamps (tidal salt marsh - largest in world).

Tiger prey items in the above reserves:
  • Chittal
  • Hog deer
  • Sambar
  • Barking deer
  • Gaur
  • Barasingha (swamp deer)
  • Wild pig
  • Nilgai
  • Chevrotain
  • Hare
  • Porcupine
  • Hog badger
  • Dhole
  • Primates
  • Lizards
Of these the chittal is the most common prey. The sambar and barking deer are also common prey items. Prey items depend on the location. Hog deer for example was preyed upon in Nepal but not India nor Thailand.

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