As a wildlife enthusiast, I want to explore jungles, cover river lands to snowy mountains and witness natural fauna & flora of the terrain. But as a human, I sometimes questions myself with a what if… what if I find myself in a tiger encounter or leopard encounter situation? At those times, I did not had any answers but later I researched and learned best ways and tricks which can help a person in a situation of tiger encounter. In this article I will explain what should we do to prevent an encounter, what to do if you encounter a tiger, and worst case scenario, what to do if tiger attacks?
What is Tiger’s Mentality Towards Prey?
A tiger’s hunting mindset is really about being a super-efficient survival machine. First, it spends a lot of time just watching just for figuring out the best way to catch dinner. It looks for the easiest target: maybe a deer that’s a little slower, or one that’s wandered away from the group. The tiger doesn’t want to waste energy on a chase it might lose.
Then comes the sneaky part. Tigers are masters of hiding. They use their stripes to blend in with the tall grass or trees, and they move without making a sound. They want to get as close as possible before the prey even knows they’re there. When it’s time to attack, it’s quick and powerful because tiger wants to end the hunt as fast as it can to conserve as much energy as they can because in the end it’s just about how they get food. They’re built to hunt, so they’re very good at it. They focus on the neck, because that’s the quickest way to stop the prey. It’s all about survival for the tiger. If they don’t hunt successfully, they don’t eat. So every move, every decision, is about getting enough food to stay alive. It’s a very focused and instinct-driven process, where every action is geared towards a successful hunt.
So there is ever a situation of tiger encounter, the chances are that tiger has no interest in us. Until we pose a threat towards the tiger or their cubs (in case of a tigress with her cubs), we are safe.
Precaution to avoid tiger encounters
When it comes to animals and specially with wild animals, it is highly unpredictable to estimate their next move. Even though cases of tigers attacking humans are less, we should do our best to avoid any confrontation with ruler of the jungle. Some key points to avoid are as follow:
Always be aware of your surroundings: When in tiger territory, you must be hyper-aware. This means constantly scanning your surroundings. Look for clues like tiger paws and their tracks, their scats as it will be large and mostly contains bones and furs, scratch marks on trees as they tend to sharpen their claws on trees. Incase you find some clues and feels like you are in a tiger’s territory, you should return to a safe space and should follow the same path you took.
Avoid night time and bushy areas: Tigers are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. If you feel that sun light is fading and soon it will be dark, then avoid going in tiger’s territory. They like to hide in a dense part of the jungle to hide their presence and heading towards a denser part will increase the chances of tiger encounter.
Travel in groups & make alerting noises: Tigers prefer to avoid humans. Making noise alerts them to your presence, reducing the chance of a surprise encounter. Traveling in groups makes you appear larger and more intimidating. Talk loudly, sing, or clap your hands while walking. Travel with companions whenever possible in a safari or wildlife exploration.
What To Do In Tiger Encounter Situation?
If on an uneventful day you find yourself in tiger encounter, then praying is not the only solution. Keeping your composure and making rightful decision is the key of survival.
Keeping yourself calm: Making rash decisions in front of a apex predator will give the impression of fear and weakness. So take deep breaths, try to control your heart rate, and focus on the steps you need to take. With a calm mind you can focus on what next to come.
Do not run in front of a tiger: Running signals that you are prey. Tigers are incredibly fast and agile and sensing the situation of a hunt they will attack for sure. Instead stand your ground and never turn your back on the tiger. Try to analyze tiger’s movements and if he is advancing towards you, take slow steps and move backwards.
Use Barrier or objects: Placing an obstacle between yourself and the tiger provides a physical shield. So without making sudden movements, try to grab a big stone, stick or any other object which can protect you. If possible, move behind a tree, rock, or into a vehicle.
What if tiger attacks you?
If in a rare occasion tiger attacks you, in that moment you should not loose hope and in fact fight back for your survival, but this is only for LAST RESORT option. Avoid tiger’s claws as they are razor sharp and try to attack their eyes, head or noes. Once they are concussed or hurt then you retreat from the fight.
Even with all of our knowledge and scenarios, a tiger encounter will always depends on situation, environment and most importantly on tiger’s mentality. So always try to avoid such scenarios of tiger encounter or any encounter to a wild animal. Even though their intention is not to hurt us but their natural instinct will tell them to defend and in that case you can get hurt.
On a wildlife safari, try to have a professional naturalist with you who has experience and never travel alone. If you are a wildlife enthusiast then you can check our tiger tours and other wildlife safaris. With a trust of 25 years we have handled more than 1M+ safaris.
