The Deer and the Tiger

The Deer and the Tigeris Schaller's detailed account of the ecology and behavior of Bengal tigers and four species of the hoofed mammals on which they prey, based on his observations in India's Kanha National Park. "This book is a treasure house of biological information and it is also a delight to read. . . . Excellent phoographs accompany the text."--Robert K. Enders, American Scientist "The one book that has been my greatest source of inspiration is The Deer and the Tigerby George Schaller, based on the first ever scientific field study of the tiger. . . . This book is written by a scientist, but speaks from the heart. . . . It reveals startling information on feeding habitats, territorial behaviour, and the nuances that make up the language of the forest; you become totally immersed in the world of the tiger. . . . For all of us who work in tiger conservation, this book is thebible."--Valmik Thapar, BBC Wildlife

George B. Schaller is a senior conservationist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and Vice President of Panthera, a foundation devoted to the conservation of wild cats. He is the author of many books, including The Mountain Gorilla and The Last Panda, both published by the University of Chicago Press.

Part I - Introduction, Study Locations, and Methods 1. Introduction 2. Study Locations and Methods Study Locations Study Methods Description of the Study Areas Part II - The Hoofed Animals 3. The Chital Description Geographical and Ecological Distribution Population Dynamics General Behavior Social Behavior Comparisons with Hog Deer 4. The Barasingha Description Distribution and Status Population Dynamics General Behavior Social Behavior 5. The Sambar Description Population Dynamics General Behavior Social Behavior 6. The Blackbuck Description Distribution and Status Population Dynamics General Behavior Social Behavior Comparisons with the Nilgai 7. The Gaur Description Distribution Population Dynamics General Behavior Social Behavior 8. Ecological and Behavioral Comparisons Biomass Ecological Separation of Species The Reproductive Season Social Behavior Communication of Danger Part III - The Predators 9. The Tiger Description Distribution and Status Population Dynamics Ranges Social Organization and Interactions Between Adults Communication Behavior of Female and Young Food Habits and Hunting, Killing, and Feeding Behavior Response to Man 10. Other Predators Leopard Jungle Cat Sloth Bear Striped Hyena Wild Dog Bengal Fox Jackal Python 11. The Effects of Predation on the Prey Populations in Kanha Park Appendix A References Cited Acknowledgments Index