Tigers change tactics to avoid people

Activities of tigers in Nepal fell sharply during the day and increased at night to minimize the risk of meeting people.

The species of the Cat family, including tigers and lions, move in their territory all day and night to hunt, mate and stop intruders. But recently Neil Carter, a University of Michigan scientist in the US, and colleagues discovered that tigers in Nepal's Chitwan National Park have changed their habits due to the presence of people, BBC. reported.

Chitwan National Park is located in a valley in the Himalayas. About 121 tigers live here. People live around the edge of the garden, but they often take firewood and cut grass in the forest to make a living. So they often travel on tiger streets. Carter's group used camera traps to study the behavior of humans, tigers and other animals for about half a year. They found that tigers restrict movement during the day and increase activity in the evening. In contrast, people rarely enter Chitwan National Park when night falls.

Carter commented that the conditions in Chitwan National Park are quite favorable to tigers - such as the large number of prey, poaching activities rarely occur and the forests on the edge of the garden are regenerating. However, people and tourists often go to the garden.

"Tigers need to be facilitated to be able to operate freely throughout Chitwan National Park if the Nepalese government wants them to enjoy a sustainable future. Our research shows that tigers have changed their habits so they can Using the entire space in the garden, " Carter said.

The number of tigers has dropped by 97% since the beginning of the 20th century. Conservationists estimate the world has about 3,000 tigers left and they live in tight spaces. Avoiding people is one of the important skills for tiger's survival today.