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Background: Hepatozoonosis has been reported in many species around the world. Few incidences have been reported in various species of wild felids. Tigers are endangered large cats and are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 under Schedule I. The study was carried out to estimate the positivity rate of hepatozoonosis in tigers of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. Methods: Blood (n = 21) or tissue samples (n = 5) were collected from 26 wild captured / zoo-born or dead tigers during the quarantine period/post-mortem examination. Blood smear examination along with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) studies were conducted for the detection of hepatozoonosis. All the amplicons from the positive samples were purified and sequenced, and the sequences were subjected to nBLAST analysis to detect the species of Hepatozoon. The sequences were deposited into public domain database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and accession numbers were allotted. A phylogenetic study was undertaken to understand the evolutionary lineage of the pathogen. Tissue distribution studies were carried out on tissue samples received during post mortem. A clinical case in a tiger cub was managed and sub-clinical cases were monitored for relapse. Age-wise, sex-wise, region-wise and captive time-wise positivity rate was estimated. The data was analyzed using statistical tools. Results: A total of 12 tigers were found positive for H. felis during the screening. A clinical case was diagnosed and successfully treated. The age group of 0–3 years reported a positivity rate of 66.66%, and all the cases found positive were reported between the age group of 0–7 years. Males reported a positivity rate of 58.33 per cent, while females reported 35.71%. Taboba and Andhari Tiger Reserve of the state had a positivity rate of 52.94 per cent. However, the statistical analysis for blood parameters and positivity rate by 't' test and Chi-squared test were found to be non-significant. Conclusions: An overall positivity rate of 46.15% indicates the wide distribution of hepatozoonosis among wild tigers of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India, which is strategically important considering the gene flow and migration of tigers. Hepatozoonosis can progress to clinical outcomes in young animals and require veterinary intervention. Molecular tools and phylogenetic studies can supplement important data on circulating species of Hepatozoon in the field. Further studies on the clinical management and epidemiology of the infection in wild felids will comprehend the cause of wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major management problems in and around protected areas is the intensifying conflict between local people and wildlife, especially large carnivores. Livestock depredation and human fatalities caused by attacks of carnivores are found to be serious obstacles in conflict management. This study aims to explore the patterns, costs, causes and perceptions of human large carnivore conflict in the Nawalpur area of Chitwan National Park. The patterns of livestock loss and human casualties due to large carnivores (Panthera tigris and Panthera pardus) were analysed using the secondary data reported to Chitwan National Park from 2001 to 2019. To understand the people's perception towards carnivores and wildlife conservation, 150 victim respondents were asked, with one household selected from each grid. During 19-year study period, a total of 521 incidents caused by large carnivores were reported, which included 33 human casualties and 488 livestock depredations. Tiger was responsible for the maximum conflict incidents in Nawalpur. The total relief provided for human deaths and injuries was US$17524.41, whereas US$13702.18 was used to compensate for livestock depredation in the Nawalpur area by authorities of the Chitwan National Park. More than 64% of the respondents liked the presence of carnivores in their area and had a positive attitude toward the conservation of large carnivores, even though the carnivores were responsible for livestock depredation and human injury and death. People's satisfaction with the relief scheme provided by the government depended on ethnicity, gender, age class, occupation, education, insurance, and livestock ownership, but they believed the scheme was not effective. Hence, an effective relief scheme and awareness about the process of relief funding should be conducted in conflict areas. Conducting awareness programs for local communities about large carnivores, their behavior, and preparing predator-proof corrals would be helpful in minimizing conflict in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hepatozoonosis has been reported in many species around the world. Few incidences have been reported in various species of wild felids. Tigers are endangered large cats and are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 under Schedule I. The study was carried out to estimate the positivity rate of hepatozoonosis in tigers of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. Methods Blood (n = 21) or tissue samples (n = 5) were collected from 26 wild captured / zoo-born or dead tigers during the quarantine period/post-mortem examination. Blood smear examination along with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) studies were conducted for the detection of hepatozoonosis. All the amplicons from the positive samples were purified and sequenced, and the sequences were subjected to nBLAST analysis to detect the species of Hepatozoon. The sequences were deposited into public domain database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and accession numbers were allotted. A phylogenetic study was undertaken to understand the evolutionary lineage of the pathogen. Tissue distribution studies were carried out on tissue samples received during post mortem. A clinical case in a tiger cub was managed and sub-clinical cases were monitored for relapse. Age-wise, sex-wise, region-wise and captive time-wise positivity rate was estimated. The data was analyzed using statistical tools. Results A total of 12 tigers were found positive for H. felis during the screening. A clinical case was diagnosed and successfully treated. The age group of 0–3 years reported a positivity rate of 66.66%, and all the cases found positive were reported between the age group of 0–7 years. Males reported a positivity rate of 58.33 per cent, while females reported 35.71%. Taboba and Andhari Tiger Reserve of the state had a positivity rate of 52.94 per cent. However, the statistical analysis for blood parameters and positivity rate by ‘t’ test and Chi-squared test were found to be non-significant. Conclusions An overall positivity rate of 46.15% indicates the wide distribution of hepatozoonosis among wild tigers of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India, which is strategically important considering the gene flow and migration of tigers. Hepatozoonosis can progress to clinical outcomes in young animals and require veterinary intervention. Molecular tools and phylogenetic studies can supplement important data on circulating species of Hepatozoon in the field. Further studies on the clinical management and epidemiology of the infection in wild felids will comprehend the cause of wildlife conservation.

This article aims to answer why the tiger dance in Kerinci Regency, Jambi Province, has not developed widely despite being preserved for more than 30 years and becoming a popular dance in Jambi Province. Qualitative research methods were used to carry out this study. In-depth interviews and uninvolved observation of the artists’ activities were used to collect the data. The analysis focused on the development of the tiger dance and the preservation discourse created by the artists and residents of Pulau Tengah Village. This study discovered that the extinct Ngagoah Imo ritual was transformed into the tiger dance. The “tiger man” myth, which the Kerinci people still hold dear, forms the basis of the tiger ritual and dance. Initially, the tiger dance was not sacred but was made sacred due to encouragement from various parties. Because of its uniqueness, the tiger dance soon became popular in Jambi and became a cure for the longing of the Kerinci people for the Ngagoah Imo ritual. Realizing the potential of tiger dance as an economic resource and as Kerinci’s regional identity, the artists then created a discourse of property rights over tiger dance. They prohibited other villagers from learning or imitating it. This discourse is slowly making tiger dance endangered because it is only controlled by a small group of artists. Such a discourse on cultural property rights needs to be straightened out. Apart from being contrary to the dynamic character of Malay culture, it is also contrary to various principles of cultural preservation.

Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020–2023. One domestic cat (Felis catus), three domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and three Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020–2021 and reported to the WOAH. All seven positive animals were linked with known SARS-CoV-2 positive human contacts. Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants by genome sequencing indicated that the cat was infected with an early SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The three dogs and three tigers were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). The role of non-human species in the onward transmission and emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly defined. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in relevant domestic and captive animal species with high levels of human contact is important to monitor transmission at the human−animal interface and to assess their role as potential animal reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Many countries continue to allow the use of non-domesticated animals, such as tigers, in travelling circuses, as introducing legislation or bans often requires sufficient scientific evidence that the environment negatively impacts animal welfare. Whilst we know that larger territorial animals are least suited to captive environments, to date there has been very limited investigation into the welfare of tigers in travelling circuses. By reviewing the scientific evidence available on the topic, this paper suggests that the travelling nature of a circus often negatively impacts on the suitability of the physical environment for tigers, as well as their nutrition, health, and mental state. However, training for performances could positively impact welfare, dependent on the techniques used. Nevertheless, the preponderance of the scientific literature supports additional nationwide bans on the use of tigers in travelling circuses internationally, due to animal welfare concerns. There are very few studies that have focused on species-specific welfare implications for tigers in a travelling circus. The absence of scientific evidence to inform nationwide legislation means that tigers are still commonly used in travelling circuses across the world. A systematic review of relevant published studies was conducted using the bibliographic databases Web of Science and Scopus, supplemented by a narrative search. In total, 42 relevant studies were identified that assessed the welfare of tigers in captivity, including circuses and zoos. Only eight papers assessed the welfare implications for tigers in circuses directly, evidencing the lack of research in this area. Given that circuses provide a sub-optimal environment compared to zoos, implications for tiger welfare were also inferred from zoo research, within the Five Domains framework. Collectively, these papers infer that the travelling nature of a circus often negatively impacts the welfare domains of nutrition, physical environment, health, and mental state. This is due to limitations in enclosure size, as well as in both environmental and behavioural enrichment. There is also often difficulty in sourcing appropriate food and specialised routine veterinary care. The literature is divided concerning behavioural interactions, specifically whether training can improve welfare by offering mental stimulation. However, circus performances are often associated with negative welfare due to noise disruption from spectators. The collective scientific evidence indicates that tigers are not well suited to circus living, due to the inability of a travelling circus to provide for their species-specific psychological, physiological, and behavioural needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern zoo relies on the persistence of genetically and physiologically healthy populations of endangered species, which is enabled through breeding programmes globally and regionally. Many species commonly held in zoos are poorly studied in the wild, leading to a lack of in-depth knowledge surrounding breeding behaviours and subsequent parental behaviours and early life development of young. Knowledge of this information is critical to make informed management decisions which promote successful rearing of young in zoos. While the critically endangered Sumatran tiger is popular in zoos, rates of cub survival in the first 5 months are lower than 50%, highlighting the need for scientific evidence driving management decisions. This study monitors nursing and cub grooming behaviours in a first-time mother Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and her cubs throughout four stages of cub development. The social proximity of cubs and dam were recorded to describe social interactions within the group throughout cub aging. A series of Friedman tests and post-hoc tests found significant decreases in both cub grooming (χ2 (3, N = 96) = 14.20, p < 0.01) and nursing (χ2 (3, N = 96) = 25.77, p < 0.001) behaviours between the birth and weaning of the cubs, as well as within different phases of cub development between those times. Cub-to-cub proximity was maintained from birth to weaning, with cubs spending significant amounts of time in close proximity (within one adult body length) of each other (χ2 (3, N = 96) = 15.231, p = 0.001) throughout the study. The dam was found to spend significantly less time with the cubs as they reached weaning age (χ2 (3, N = 96) = 27.88, p < 0.001). These results are thought to be the first of their kind to detail timings of cub development and early life socialisation, providing evidence for timing of first food provision to young and promote the provision of space for the dam to spend time away from the cubs, while allowing the cubs to become confident, mobile, and independent.

Background: While most catheters are designed for the natural anatomy of the coronaries at the origin, we often end up using multiple catheters in failed attempts to hook the coronary ostia in case of unusual origins. We had similar issues where we used multiple catheters in vain during femoral approach catheterizations and ended up successfully hooking with a tiger (TIG) catheter in a few of our cases in the catheterization laboratory. We mostly used Judkins left (JL) and Judkins right (JR) catheters as the first choice for femoral approach catheterizations. Hence, we wanted to see how frequently we had to use catheters other than JL and JR and which catheter was most useful in such cases. Methods: This is a retrospective study of catheterization laboratory angiographic data and recordings involving femoral artery approach coronary catheterization at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, from January 2022 to December 2022. We analyzed and interpreted the data of difficult femoral artery catheterizations where JL/JR catheters could not hook the coronaries successfully. We tabulated such data in percentages to understand which catheter was most useful in such cases. We analyzed the angiograms of such cases to understand the coronary origins. Results: Overall, 1130 cases underwent femoral artery approach coronary angiograms. Of them, 1100 (97.3%) cases could be hooked with JL and JR catheters. Thirty (2.65%) cases were found to be difficult femoral artery approach catheterizations where either JL or JR catheter could not be used successfully. Out of those difficult ones (30 cases – 100%), 22 (73.3%) cases could be hooked with TIG catheter, 4 (13.33%) cases with extra backup (EBU) catheter, 1 (3.33%) case with JR side hole (JRSH) catheter, 2 (6.66%) cases with no torque right (NTR) catheter, and 1 (3.33%) case with multipurpose catheter (MPA). Out of these 30 cases, a left coronary angiogram was needed other than a JL catheter in 8 cases, while a right coronary angiogram was needed other than a JR catheter in 25 cases, showing that the right coronary artery (RCA) was mostly involved in difficult catheterizations. For left coronary angiograms, 4 cases hooked with TIG (1 case – posteriorly/low takeoff, 1 – high takeoff, 1 – mid-takeoff, and 1 – RCA/left main coronary artery [LMCA] from left sinus) and 4 cases with EBU catheter (1 – anterior/high takeoff, 2 – high takeoffs, and 1 – posteriorly/high takeoff). For right coronary angiograms, 21 cases hooked with TIG (3 cases – left sinus/anteriorly, 3 – high takeoff/anteriorly, 3 – low takeoff, 2 – mid takeoff/anteriorly, 3 – posterior/high takeoff, 1 – RCA/LMCA from left sinus, 1 – posteriorly/left sinus, 3 – high takeoff, 1 – anteriorly/low takeoff, and 1 – right sinus/mid-takeoff), 1 case with JRSH, 1 case with MPA (anterior/high takeoff) and 2 cases with NTR (1 – low takeoff and 1 – high takeoff). Conclusion: We found that the TIG catheter was useful in difficult femoral approach catheterizations in the majority of cases and it can be tried in difficult cases.

The Endangered tiger Panthera tigris and Vulnerable snow leopard Panthera uncia are umbrella species and conservation priorities. Jigme Dorji National Park is an important protected area for the conservation of both species because it serves as a source site for tigers to adjacent areas and has the largest snow leopard population in Bhutan. Habitat overlap of tigers and snow leopards in Bhutan has been previously reported based on evidence of tigers (pugmarks, livestock killed and camera-trap images) in known snow leopard habitat above 4,000 m altitude. Here we report the first photographic evidence of both tigers and snow leopards at the same locations, confirming habitat overlap and co-occurrence of the two species. The data are derived from the countrywide tiger survey carried out during October 2021–January 2022. Fifty-six pairs of camera traps were installed in a 5 × 5 km grid at an altitude range of 1,200–4,300 m. After a survey effort of 1,528 trap-nights, 478 tiger images and 31 snow leopard images were captured at 12 and three camera stations, respectively. At all three camera stations that captured snow leopard images, tigers were also captured. These findings indicate the habitat overlap and co-occurrence of tigers and snow leopards in Jigme Dorji National Park. Further research is required to inform conservation practice in the National Park focusing on these apex predators.

Southeast Asia experiences some of the highest deforestation in the world. Loss of tropical forest typically leads to widespread habitat fragmentation, with detrimental effects on dispersal ability and gene flow—particularly for large carnivores. We conducted mtDNA and microsatellite analysis to assess—for the first time—contemporary patterns of genetic diversity in the Malayan tiger. We collected 295 suspected carnivore samples in Peninsular Malaysia, from which we identified 26 as originating from tiger using 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci, comprising 22 individual tigers. Despite limitations of the study, our findings suggest tiger subpopulations in the north of the peninsula maintain some genetic connectivity and migration between two putative geographic subpopulations in the Main Range and Greater Taman Negara, with negligible population segregation due to dispersal barriers such as road infrastructure. We identified consistently lower levels of genetic diversity in tigers in the Greater Taman Negara region compared to tigers in the Main Range and small but emerging differences in nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity. Our mtDNA haplotype and nuclear DNA analyses suggest the levels of genetic diversity in Malayan tigers may be amongst some of the lowest of the surviving tiger subspecies, though the study is limited both in scale and genomic loci. Our findings are consistent with an expected lag between the rapid decline of tigers in Peninsular Malaysia by over 95% in the last 70 years and observed differences in their levels of genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article I intended to further explore Jürgen Frembgen's supposition about the late presence of the spotted hyena in South Asia with the help of available textual sources. My aim was to determine what kind of animal is meant by the word tarakṣu, which is the common Sanskrit name for the hyena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine different aspects of Craniocervical Artery Dissections, which resulted in the animal’s death following a sequence of pathological events. Following the physical damage to the female Siberian tiger neck due to the Agonistic behaviour of the male tiger, diagnostic tests such as complete medical examination, Time-of-Flight (TOF) MRA imaging and radiography, as well as sampling for clinical assessment, haematology, microbial culture, and antibiogram was performed, initial treatment was prescribed, and PCR was performed. Unfortunately, the Medical treatment measures were inadequate, and the animal died. Therefore, necropsy, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed. The results of the microbiological study included the identification of Bergeyella zoohelcum for the first time in this animal species, as well as diagnostic findings; necropsy and histological examinations, including aneurysm, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and ischemic stroke, were provided as well as Horner’s intramural hematoma and rupture of the carotid arteries and internal jugular vein, which has never been described before. Whole-body trauma computed tomography with an adapted scanning protocol for the craniocervical vessels is a safe, fast, and feasible method for detecting vascular injuries. It allows prompt further treatment if necessary. This method could be a part of a broad screening protocol for craniocervical vessels in documented injuries of the head and neck and trauma mechanisms influencing the craniocervical region as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal trade in big cat (Panthera spp.) body parts is a prominent topic in scientific and public discourses concerning wildlife conservation. While illegal trade is generally acknowledged as a threat to big cat species, we suggest that two enabling factors have, to date, been under‐considered. To that end, we discuss the roles of human‐felid conflict, and "local" use in illegal trade in big cat body parts. Drawing examples from across species and regions, we look at generalities, contextual subtleties, ambiguities, and definitional complexities. We caution against underestimating the extent of "local" use of big cats and highlight the potential of conflict killings to supply body parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Endangered tiger Panthera tigris and Vulnerable snow leopard Panthera uncia are umbrella species and conservation priorities. Jigme Dorji National Park is an important protected area for the conservation of both species because it serves as a source site for tigers to adjacent areas and has the largest snow leopard population in Bhutan. Habitat overlap of tigers and snow leopards in Bhutan has been previously reported based on evidence of tigers (pugmarks, livestock killed and camera-trap images) in known snow leopard habitat above 4,000 m altitude. Here we report the first photographic evidence of both tigers and snow leopards at the same locations, confirming habitat overlap and co-occurrence of the two species. The data are derived from the countrywide tiger survey carried out during October 2021–January 2022. Fifty-six pairs of camera traps were installed in a 5 × 5 km grid at an altitude range of 1,200–4,300 m. After a survey effort of 1,528 trap-nights, 478 tiger images and 31 snow leopard images were captured at 12 and three camera stations, respectively. At all three camera stations that captured snow leopard images, tigers were also captured. These findings indicate the habitat overlap and co-occurrence of tigers and snow leopards in Jigme Dorji National Park. Further research is required to inform conservation practice in the National Park focusing on these apex predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aspired to investigate the human trauma of a society in wartime and thereafter. It focuses on literature that seeks to reflect life as it should be. However, literary works here deal with catastrophic dramas that depict Iraqis who generally suffer from the negative repercussions of the American Crisis and the extreme underdevelopment and poverty at that time. In this paper, the audience faces the disaster in two dramatic works: Baghdadi Bath (2005) by Jawad al-Asadi and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (2012) by Rajiv Joseph. They are a good example that depicts the nightmare experienced by all Iraqis during the war. Speaking about the disaster of war, we guess that the disaster may have human roots. The disaster of war on Iraq, in particular, is taken for analysis. The researchers try to denote the nature of man at the time of the disaster. The paper explores the relations between the ideas of war and the world we face and refers to Baghdad's brutal past and its confused present. It also inspects the real reasons behind the war and records the human condition in the consequences of the American invasion of Iraq. To narrow the field of investigation, the researchers have chosen disaster at war, especially the American war on Iraq in 2003, and its results for the study. The paper steps down war and violence and assures peace for people depending on different perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay employs Aphra Behn's Oroonoko (1688) as a case study through which to explore the "interspecies imaginary": a conceptual framework that examines how violent tensions between disparate species are imagined in the colonial archive and how these tensions cohere around representations of Blackness, Indigeneity, and animality. The interspecies imaginary, rather than defaulting to a discriminatory rhetoric in which subaltern positions are flattened, instead maintains a subversive, decolonial effect in that its documentation produces new constellations of co-constitutive becoming. By highlighting the tiger and eel episodes in the novella, this essay argues that the interspecies imaginary magnifies the textures of violent contact between human and nonhuman species that shape how formations of gender, Blackness, and Indigeneity are productively tethered to and produced alongside animality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the prey preference of Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in Malaysia is important to guide conservation planning initiatives. The utilisation of DNA metabarcoding provides valuable insights, particularly in the field of carnivora diet research. This technique has been proven to be effective for identifying various species within complex mixtures such as scat materials, where visual identification is challenging. The Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus has been selected as it is a widely used as an effective non-invasive approach for diet studies. Hence, given this advance approach, Malayan tiger scats were collected on the basis of existing records of their presence in two types of habitats, namely, protected areas (PA) and human–tiger conflict (HTC) areas. This study aimed to identify prey species in Peninsular Malaysia, based on Malayan tiger scat samples using DNA metabarcoding. Based on the partial mitochondrial COI region, DNA metabarcoding led to the taxonomic resolution of prey DNA remnants in scats and the identification of prey species consumed by Malayan tiger, which were predominately small-to-medium-sized prey, including livestock. The dominant DNA prey detected belongs to the family Canidae, followed by Bovidae, Vespertilionidae, Homonidae, Felidae, Phasianidae and Muridae. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in alpha and beta diversity using the Shannon index and PERMANOVA with regard to prey richness and evenness in two different habitat groups, namely, PA and HTC. Our finding provides insights into Malayan tiger dietary requirements, which can be used to develop conservation plans and strategies for Malayan tiger, particularly for habitat priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.

This Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) research examined World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) posters campaigning for tiger protection, whose population has been fewer than 5000 in recent years. It uses a qualitative descriptive method with Kress and van Leeuwen's compositional meaning theory (2006) to explore how the composition of the posters delivered messages to readers. Besides, it also tried to reveal the ideologies depicted in those posters critically. The number of data analyzed was 6 (six) tiger posters taken from the adsoftheworld website (https://www.adsoftheworld.com) with the keywords 'tiger' and 'WWF.' As a result, the salient elements of the selected posters represented a critical state of the tiger population. They could also convey to readers that the extinction of tigers can be prevented with a wise life. In addition, both verbal and visual elements depicted several ideologies: (1) the tiger was seen as property, not as a living creature, (2) people could choose to fight for or destroy the tiger, (3) power hierarchy made people unable to act, and (4) the tigers are in endangered states. Hopefully, this research can be used as a theoretical reference for further research on environmental and animal issues in the multimodal field. Besides, visual communication practitioners can imitate or follow the analyzed posters in this research to make any content concerning any life issues by paying more attention to the salient elements in their posters.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected zoonotic protozoal disease caused by Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani that is transmitted by sandflies (Phlebotamine flies). In November 2020, a case of leishmaniasis was diagnosed in a captive tiger through microscopy and L. infantum was confirmed by PCR and sequencing analysis. DNA sequencing of the amplicon revealed close homology with Leishmania sequences available in GenBank. Alignments and phylogenetic analyses of the Leishmania infantum from a tiger in Pakistan indicated 94-100 % identity with Leishmania from animals and 98.8-100% with Leishmania from humans origins suggesting the need for screening of animals before transporting, and of humans before taking care of captive animals, in order to prevent transboundary spread of Leishmania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Large carnivores play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Successful conservation initiatives have often led to a huge increase in predators which has often led to negative interactions with humans. Without the knowledge of the carrying capacity of the top predator, such decisions become challenging. Here, we have derived a new equation to estimate the carrying capacity of tigers based on the individual prey species density. Methods. We used tiger densities and respective prey densities of different protected areas. Relative prey abundance was used instead of absolute prey density as this could be a better surrogate of the prey preference. We used a regression approach to derive the species-wise equation. We have also scaled these coefficients accordingly to control the variation in the standard error (heteroscedasticity) of the tiger density. Furthermore, we have extended this regression equation for different species to different weight classes for more generalized application of the method. Results. The new equations performed considerably better compared to the earlier existing carrying capacity equations. Incorporating the species-wise approach in the equation also reflected the preference of the prey species for the tiger. This is the first carrying capacity equation where the individual prey densities are used to estimate the carnivore population density. The coefficient estimates of the model with the comparison with prey-predator power laws also reflect the differential effect of tigers on different prey species. The carrying capacity estimates will aid in a better understanding of the predator-prey interaction and will advance better management of the top predator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye-witness accounts of a living "panther", a leopard, two tigers and a hyena, appended to "Idea institutionum Trichozoologiae", an unpublished manuscript on mammal classification by Swedish naturalist Peter Artedi (1705–1735), made during a visit to London sometime between early November 1734 and June 1735, are described. Interest is focused on his account of the hyena, which appears to have been the only modern source for Carl Linnaeus, who acknowledged Artedi in the first edition of Systema naturae. Evidence is provided to show that Artedi's account was accurate and original, having never had the opportunity to witness the animal previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research demonstrates that doubling the number of tigers as Bangladesh pledged at the 2010 'Tiger Summit' is impossible without restoring the Sundarbans' intact habitat and ecological balance. The research identifies the barriers to tiger conservation in Bangladesh's Sundarbans. Last, a number of conservation strategies are put forward, including adopting a cross-border conservation plan and preserving the habitat in its natural state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020–2023. One domestic cat (Felis catus), three domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and three Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020–2021 and reported to the WOAH. All seven positive animals were linked with known SARS-CoV-2 positive human contacts. Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants by genome sequencing indicated that the cat was infected with an early SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The three dogs and three tigers were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). The role of non-human species in the onward transmission and emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly defined. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in relevant domestic and captive animal species with high levels of human contact is important to monitor transmission at the human−animal interface and to assess their role as potential animal reservoirs.

Approaches that allow capitalizing on local population estimates to derive global population estimates with associated uncertainty are urgently needed, especially for naturally rare species of conservation concern. Here we used published population density estimates to predict large-scale density patterns and derive global population estimates for two species of large felids, the leopard and the tiger. We modelled population density for the leopard (n = 392) and the tiger (n = 547) as a function of environmental and anthropogenic variables, while controlling for differences in sampling method and sampling area, time of data collection, spatial autocorrelation, subspecies and political protection. We used Bayesian inference to generate a distribution of plausible population sizes. Both species showed higher densities in high productivity areas, the leopard being more abundant in high precipitation, high level of terrain roughness and agricultural areas, and the tiger in areas with low croplands and low roughness. Primary roads density showed a negative effect on both species. Secondary roads density was associated to higher densities for the leopard but lower densities for the tiger. Livestock biomass showed a humped relationship with tigers’ densities. Temporal trends in average density were negative for the tiger, experiencing an average decline of 34% (IQR: 11% − 53%). In contrast, the trend for leopards showed a marginal, yet uncertain, increase in recent years 21% (IQR: −5% − 57%). We predicted a global population estimate of 261,636 (IQR = 146,768 − 461,512) and 5201 tigers (IQR = 2596 − 10,460). Large-scale models of population density that rely on unstructured data can contribute to our understanding of species ecology, produce robust population size estimates for conservation assessment and inform large-scale conservation planning. At the same time, the uncertainty around these estimates highlights the limited knowledge available for these species which should be accounted for in conservation assessments.

Background Large carnivores play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Successful conservation initiatives have often led to a huge increase in predators which has often led to negative interactions with humans. Without the knowledge of the carrying capacity of the top predator, such decisions become challenging. Here, we have derived a new equation to estimate the carrying capacity of tigers based on the individual prey species density. Methods We used tiger densities and respective prey densities of different protected areas. Relative prey abundance was used instead of absolute prey density as this could be a better surrogate of the prey preference. We used a regression approach to derive the species-wise equation. We have also scaled these coefficients accordingly to control the variation in the standard error (heteroscedasticity) of the tiger density. Furthermore, we have extended this regression equation for different species to different weight classes for more generalized application of the method. Results The new equations performed considerably better compared to the earlier existing carrying capacity equations. Incorporating the species-wise approach in the equation also reflected the preference of the prey species for the tiger. This is the first carrying capacity equation where the individual prey densities are used to estimate the carnivore population density. The coefficient estimates of the model with the comparison with prey-predator power laws also reflect the differential effect of tigers on different prey species. The carrying capacity estimates will aid in a better understanding of the predator-prey interaction and will advance better management of the top predator.

Objective: To describe a case of congenital glaucoma in atiger (Panthera tigris). Animal Studied: An 8‐month‐old intact female tiger wasreferred for suspected glaucoma of the right eye. The right eye was buphthalmicwith moderate episcleral injection, circumferential superficial cornealneovascularization, moderate corneal edema, and a fixed dilated pupil. Tapetalreflection was absent due to a mature cataract. Rebound tonometry under generalanesthesia revealed 70 mmHg and 21 mmHg in the right and left eye, respectively. Procedure: A trans‐conjunctival enucleation was performedand the globe was submitted for histopathology. Results: Histopathology revealed a thin sclera, amorphousmaterial contouring an imperforate and hypoplastic iridocorneal angle, ahypoplastic lens with severe anterior‐posterior compression, subcapsularepithelial hyperplasia, and Morganian globules, and segmental moderate retinalatrophy. Periodic acid‐Schiff stain highlighted segmental dilations of theDescemet's membrane. Masson trichrome stain highlighted a pre‐irido collagenmembrane. Conclusion: The tiger's age and histopathologic findingsare consistent with congenital goniodysgenesis. This is the first known reportof congenital glaucoma in a tiger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar is rich in biodiversity yet is facing threats from varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure. In this research we examine how anthropogenic pressures are influencing large carnivores (tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus and dhole Cuon alpinus) and their major prey species (wild pig Sus scrofa, muntjac Muntiacus spp., sambar Rusa unicolor, gaur Bos gaurus and banteng Bos javanicus) in the Lenya Reserved Forest and adjacent areas of Sundaic forest. We used data from camera-trap surveys during May 2016–March 2018 and logistic regression to analyse the relationships between the presence of large carnivores and explanatory variables such as human disturbance, landscape variability and changes in prey distribution. Tiger presence was positively associated with the occurrence of gaur and distance to villages. The occurrence of prey did not explain the detection of leopards in the study area. We suspect this was because leopards have a broad diet, including arboreal primates, and their prey was not fully recorded in our camera-trap survey. Dholes were positively associated with wild pigs and the total number of prey but not associated with forest type and landscape variables. To restore the carnivore population and conserve the biodiversity of this area, effective protection of predators and habitat management for large ungulates are crucial.

Radio telemetry is being used in India to capture the location and movements of radio-collared wild animals. Radio telemetry data analysis has changed the scenario for wildlife conservation. It has provided many models and solutions for natural habitat utilization, genetic diversity, and even implementing green corridors for the species. Insights drawn from the data collected through radio telemetry from radio-collared animals have provided impactful information to understand the wild animal’s ecology. In the past few years, India has remarkably improved the population of tigers using telemetry studies and other conservation methods. In this study, a review of the telemetry studies conducted for tigers in India in the past decade has been presented. This study summarizes the telemetry studies of tigers in India and discusses how telemetry has enhanced the knowledge of ecologists and scientists to understand tiger ecology. This study also discusses the challenges and issues of conducting telemetry studies on tigers in India. Finally, the authors address the gaps in understanding the tiger’s ecology based on these studies and outline how radio telemetry can address these issues to better understand and conserve tigers.

There are very few studies that have focused on species-specific welfare implications for tigers in a travelling circus. The absence of scientific evidence to inform nationwide legislation means that tigers are still commonly used in travelling circuses across the world. A systematic review of relevant published studies was conducted using the bibliographic databases Web of Science and Scopus, supplemented by a narrative search. In total, 42 relevant studies were identified that assessed the welfare of tigers in captivity, including circuses and zoos. Only eight papers assessed the welfare implications for tigers in circuses directly, evidencing the lack of research in this area. Given that circuses provide a sub-optimal environment compared to zoos, implications for tiger welfare were also inferred from zoo research, within the Five Domains framework. Collectively, these papers infer that the travelling nature of a circus often negatively impacts the welfare domains of nutrition, physical environment, health, and mental state. This is due to limitations in enclosure size, as well as in both environmental and behavioural enrichment. There is also often difficulty in sourcing appropriate food and specialised routine veterinary care. The literature is divided concerning behavioural interactions, specifically whether training can improve welfare by offering mental stimulation. However, circus performances are often associated with negative welfare due to noise disruption from spectators. The collective scientific evidence indicates that tigers are not well suited to circus living, due to the inability of a travelling circus to provide for their species-specific psychological, physiological, and behavioural needs.

Human-induced forest loss has had devastating impacts on biodiversity. Mammal populations in the tropics have been hit particularly hard by the resulting habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, as well as by overhunting which often goes hand-in-hand. While declines in these populations are generally well documented, few studies offer a pathway for their recovery. Here, we test the association between changes in forest habitat and occupancy trends of Sumatran megafauna (elephant and tiger) and key tiger prey species (wild boar and sambar) in the Leuser Ecosystem: a large forest landscape on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. For elephant and tiger, we develop additional occupancy models to predict their respective spatial distribution under different scenarios of forest loss and gain (through restoration and increased connectivity) to provide a blueprint for avoiding future species loss and assisting with their population recovery. From 2000 to 2019, 254,722 ha (6.7%) of natural forest was converted, primarily to plantations and shrubs. The species-specific responses over the study period revealed that the occurrence of elephant declined along the west, with a range shift to the northeast of Leuser, whereas wild boar underwent a dramatic widespread decline and although sambar experienced losses around the forest edge, it remained widespread in the interior forest, while tiger occupancy remained stable. Modelling habitat loss and fragmentation led to an unsurprising demise of Sumatran megafauna, whereas strategic investments that reconnected several forest patches provided disproportionately large benefits for their recovery through the recolonization of former parts of their range. Indonesia has achieved six consecutive years of declining forest loss rates, and our study’s findings can build off this conservation success by supporting improved provincial spatial planning and field-based restoration efforts that avoid declines of threatened megafauna species and act as a catalyst for rewilding a landscape of global importance.

This study aims to examine different aspects of Craniocervical Artery Dissections, which resulted in the animal’s death following a sequence of pathological events. Following the physical damage to the female Siberian tiger neck due to the Agonistic behaviour of the male tiger, diagnostic tests such as complete medical examination, Time-of-Flight (TOF) MRA imaging and radiography, as well as sampling for clinical assessment, haematology, microbial culture, and antibiogram was performed, initial treatment was prescribed, and PCR was performed. Unfortunately, the Medical treatment measures were inadequate, and the animal died. Therefore, necropsy, histopathological examination, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed. The results of the microbiological study included the identification of Bergeyella zoohelcum for the first time in this animal species, as well as diagnostic findings; necropsy and histological examinations, including aneurysm, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and ischemic stroke, were provided as well as Horner’s intramural hematoma and rupture of the carotid arteries and internal jugular vein, which has never been described before. Whole-body trauma computed tomography with an adapted scanning protocol for the craniocervical vessels is a safe, fast, and feasible method for detecting vascular injuries. It allows prompt further treatment if necessary. This method could be a part of a broad screening protocol for craniocervical vessels in documented injuries of the head and neck and trauma mechanisms influencing the craniocervical region as well. Klinične in diagnostične slikovne ugotovitve pri bengalskem tigru (Panthera tigris tigris) z disekcijo kraniocervikalne arterije: Poročilo o primeru Izvleček: Namen te študije je bil preučiti različne vidike disekcij kraniocervikalnih arterij, ki so po zaporedju patoloških dogodkov povzročile smrt živali. Po fizičnih poškodbah vratu samice sibirskega tigra, ki so bile posledica agonističnega vedenje samca tigra, smo opravili diagnostične teste, ki so vključevali popolni zdravniški pregled, slikanje MRA s časom leta (TOF) in radiografijo. Vzeli smo tudi vzorce za klinično oceno, hematologijo, mikrobiološko kulturo in antibiogram. Predpisali smo začetno zdravljenje in izvedli PCR. Na žalost so bili ukrepi zdravljenja neustrezni in žival je poginila. Zato smo opravili nekropsijo, histopatološki pregled in imunohistokemično barvanje. Rezultati mikrobiološke preiskave so vključevali prvo identifikacijo bakterije Bergeyella zoohelcum pri tej vrsti živali. Diagnostične ugotovitve na podlagi nekropsije in histoloških preiskav so vključevale anevrizmo, subarahnoidalno krvavitev, ishemično kap ter Hornerjev intramuralni hematom, rupturo karotidnih arterij in notranje jugularne vene, kar še ni bilo opisano. Računalniška tomografija celotnega telesa s prilagojenim protokolom slikanja kraniocervikalnih žil je varna, hitra in izvedljiva metoda za odkrivanje poškodb žil. Ta metoda bi lahko bila del širšega presejalnega protokola za kraniocervikalne žile pri dokumentiranih poškodbah glave in vratu ter mehanizmih poškodb, ki vplivajo tudi na kraniocervikalno področje. Ključne besede: Bergeyella zoohelcum; ishemična kap; subarahnoidalna krvavitev; tiger; prehodni ishemični napad

Living in a group setting is essential for the health and wellbeing of social carnivores; however, the managed formation of captive groups of territorial animals can be challenging because of the risk of aggression, injury, and even death. Numerous laboratory and clinical studies have implicated oxytocin in the formation of social bonds. Previously, we have shown that oxytocin (OT) administration reduced social vigilance in African lions. Here, we describe a series of case reports in which OT administration was used to facilitate social bonding in both familiar and unfamiliar conspecific pairs and groups of African lions and tigers, and we provide qualitative descriptions of the study animals' behaviors before and after treatment. We hypothesized that the repeated intranasal administration of oxytocin over a period of 6-8 weeks would facilitate (1) the bonding process during introductions of unfamiliar individuals and (2) reconciliation between paired individuals that had developed ongoing negative social relationships. Following OT treatment, positive social interactions were either observed for the first time or were restored in all seven study groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choice-based design allows animals in human care opportunities to move at will between multiple interconnected spaces. Some evidence suggests providing environmental choice confers benefits to animals, but there is a dearth of research in this area with large carnivores. To understand the effects of this design strategy on large felids, behavioral and space use data were collected on three Amur tigers housed in a new habitat at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Data were collected in two conditions: 1) restricted to a single habitat, and 2) access to two habitats. With choice, tigers were less frequently inactive (p = 0.003), and locomoted more frequently (p = 0.009). They also showed different preferences in space use with choice, and a strong preference for overhead runways between habitats (E* = 0.83, E* = 0.78). These results add to what is known about environmental impacts on zoo animal behavior and suggest this design and management strategy may be effective in conferring positive welfare benefits to tigers and other large carnivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. Felines excrete Toxoplasma gondii oocysts, which play a key role in the transmission of this protozoon. Pathological diagnoses were performed on four carcasses of captive tigers collected from 2019 to 2021 in China, and T. gondii was surveyed using serology, molecular analysis, and aetiology. Striated muscle samples of the tigers (n = 4) were bioassayed in mice. DNA derived from T. gondii tachyzoites was isolated and characterized using PCR–RFLP. The pathological diagnoses revealed that ageing, declined immune function, liver, and kidney failures caused the deaths in the tigers examined. A modified agglutination test (cut–off: 1:25) revealed that IgG antibodies to T. gondii were 100% (4/4) in the captive tigers. Two viable T. gondii strains (TgTigerCHn3 and TgTigerCHn4) were isolated from tiger striated muscles and seeded on the Vero cell culture for further propagation. The genotypes of TgTigerCHn3 and TgTigerCHn4 were ToxoDB#20 and ToxoDB#2, respectively. The two strains were avirulent for Swiss mice, which matched the ROP18 and ROP5 gene alleles of TgtigerCHn3 (3/4) and TgtigerCHn4 (3/3). Few brain tissue cysts (0–213) were observed in the mice after inoculation with TgTigerCHn3 and TgTigerCHn4. This is the first documented isolation of T. gondii ToxoDB#20 and ToxoDB#2 from tigers. The results provide additional direct evidence of tiger as intermediate hosts for T. gondii. Tigers in the zoos may potentially transmit T. gondii to other animals and humans.

To assess the state of the Panthera tigris altaica (hereinafter – tiger) population, its annual monitoring is being carried out on 16 sites within its range, as this subspecies is still considered threatened. These sites include state nature reserves and adjacent territories, which differ in their protection status. In this paper, a number of tiger individuals in groups and reproduction have been compared on these sites to identify factors that determine these parameters. The tiger population in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve (area of 1210 km2) was compared with the tiger population in an unprotected area (area of 988 km2), which, similarly to the Protected Area, is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan. A description and comparison of these two sites is given. The study has been carried out in 1997–2021 in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, and in 1997–2012 in the unprotected site «Lazovsky District». During the winter, information was collected about tiger tracks in the study area, and data on predator tracks were collected out on stationary routes during two field counts. In the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, the density of routes in various years was 1.0–1.5 km per 10 km2, 1.2 km per 10 km2 in the site «Lazovsky District». Tiger individuals were identified by the width of paw prints. Tracks differed by more than 2 cm were considered belonging to different individuals. Indicators of the tiger population was about twice higher in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve than in the unprotected site «Lazovsky District». In 1997–2012, in both Lazovsky State Nature Reserve and unprotected site «Lazovsky District», the population density of both adult and subadult tigers was respectively 8.6 ± 0.7 individuals per 1000 km2 and 5.3 ± 0.5 individuals per 1000 km2, while this parameter was respectively 3.1 ± 1.0 individuals per 1000 km2 and 1.7 ± 0.04 individuals per 1000 km2 for tiger cubs younger than a year. The tiger track density in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve was 3.03 ± 0.51 tracks per 100 km, taking into account the time passed after the snowfalls covering all tracks; on the site «Lazovsky District», this indicator was 1.33 ± 0.27 tracks per 100 km. In 1997–2012, the population density of adults and subadults was significantly (F = 59.40, p < 0.001) higher in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve than on the site «Lazovsky District». The population density of tiger cubs (F = 6.30, p < 0.018) and the track density (F = 4.86, p < 0.036) were also significantly higher in the Protected Area than in the unprotected one. The survival rate of tiger cubs was also higher in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve. Here, the proportion of tiger litters with one cub was 16% (n = 4), with two cubs 48% (n = 12), with three 32% (n = 8), and with four 4% (n = 1) of the total number. On the unprotected site «Lazovsky District», the proportion of litters with one cub was 53% (n = 8), with two 27% (n = 4), and with three 20% (n = 3) of the total number. A downward trend in the population density of tiger cubs was found on the site «Lazovsky District». In 2012–2021 in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, the average population density was 8.9 ± 1.8 individuals per 1000 km2 for adult and subadult tigers, and 4.3 ± 1.1 individuals per 1000 km2 for tiger cubs, while the average tiger track density was 2.39 ± 0.68 tracks per 100 km. During this period, the population density of tiger cubs decreased in the Protected Area, and there was also a tendency towards a decrease in the relative number of adults and subadults. The regular three-year cycle in the dynamics of the tiger track density in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve indicates that environmental factors predominantly influence tiger groups here. No regular cycle was observed on the unprotected site «Lazovsky District». This finding and the lower number of tiger individuals in this area are associated with the negative impact of related anthropogenic factors, namely poaching, hunting, and logging. Recreational pressure also affects the tiger groups. In the last decade, the tiger group in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve has been exposed to anthropogenic factors from the adjacent area. It is concluded that the further protection of the tiger and the increase in its number is possible if Protected Areas of various statuses are established, if extensive buffer zones are created around new and existing Protected Areas, if hunting is prohibited and logging is limited. The use of agricultural lands for other purposes around Protected Areas should be forbidden.

Simple Summary: With growing concern for animal welfare, understanding social behavior in captive animals is critical when making evidence-based management decisions. The sociality of large felids in captivity has remained largely understudied, yet these species are frequently housed together in practice in zoological collections. The aim of this study was to investigate the social behavior between a pair of Malayan tigers and their twin 6-month-old cubs. The aim was to investigate the welfare effects of keeping big cats in shared enclosure spaces. Using video footage, we found that the male tiger engaged in affiliative behavior, not just with his mate but also with his offspring. Even in the absence of clear affiliative interaction, the male displayed high tolerance to both conspecifics, as evidenced by his acceptance of direct physical contact and low occurrences of aggression. The findings suggest that some felid species may have greater social flexibility than has previously been documented and indicate that housing male tigers with their mates and young offspring may be a feasible management strategy in some zoological collections. The survival of endangered felids is becoming increasingly dependent on the successful management and breeding of reserve populations in captivity. While most felid species are reported to be solitary in the wild, increasing evidence suggests that some big cats have greater social plasticity than is currently acknowledged. This social plasticity allows felids to be sometimes socially housed in environments such as zoos and rescue centers. While the effects of such shared enclosures remain in question, many reports provide evidence of several welfare benefits of maintaining these large carnivores in pairs or even groups. Since 2019, Le Parc des Félins has housed a breeding pair of Malaysian tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) alongside their offspring. The purpose of this study was to quantify the social affiliation between the male tiger and his cubs and to investigate the female's tolerance toward him. The data were collected using video recordings in the outdoor enclosure when social interactions were observed. The data were coded and categorized in the open-source software BORIS, from which behavioral activity budgets were calculated. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test for association to determine differences in affiliative frequency, with directed and undirected sociograms created to visualize individual relationships. Overall, the male regularly engaged in affiliative behaviors with the cubs, with no significant difference found in the frequency of interactions with them compared to the female. No physical aggression was directed by the male toward the cubs. Although the female maintained a stronger bond with the cubs compared to the male, he displayed a greater range of affiliative behaviors toward them than male tigers are thought to exhibit. Both adults showed a high degree of tolerance toward their conspecifics, suggesting that maintaining breeding pairs with their offspring is a viable management strategy in zoological collections. This study could therefore improve husbandry and conservation practices by developing our understanding of felid sociality and the potential welfare benefits of social housing, allowing for evidence-based captive management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar is rich in biodiversity yet is facing threats from varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure. In this research we examine how anthropogenic pressures are influencing large carnivores (tiger Panthera tigris , leopard Panthera pardus and dhole Cuon alpinus) and their major prey species (wild pig Sus scrofa , muntjac Muntiacus spp., sambar Rusa unicolor , gaur Bos gaurus and banteng Bos javanicus) in the Lenya Reserved Forest and adjacent areas of Sundaic forest. We used data from camera-trap surveys during May 2016–March 2018 and logistic regression to analyse the relationships between the presence of large carnivores and explanatory variables such as human disturbance, landscape variability and changes in prey distribution. Tiger presence was positively associated with the occurrence of gaur and distance to villages. The occurrence of prey did not explain the detection of leopards in the study area. We suspect this was because leopards have a broad diet, including arboreal primates, and their prey was not fully recorded in our camera-trap survey. Dholes were positively associated with wild pigs and the total number of prey but not associated with forest type and landscape variables. To restore the carnivore population and conserve the biodiversity of this area, effective protection of predators and habitat management for large ungulates are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in the Serengeti to tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in the Russian Far East, canine distemper virus (CDV) has been repeatedly identified as a threat to wild carnivores. Between 2020 and 2022, six Indian leopards (P. pardus fusca) presented to Nepali authorities with fatal neurological disease, consistent with CDV. Here, we report the findings of a serosurvey of wild felids from Nepal. A total of 48 serum samples were tested, comprising 28 Bengal tigers (P. t. tigris) and 20 Indian leopards. Neutralizing antibodies were identified in three tigers and six leopards, equating to seroprevalences of 11% (CI: 2.8–29.3%, n = 28) and 30% (CI: 12.8–54.3%, n = 20), respectively. More than one-third of seropositive animals were symptomatic, and three died within a week of being sampled. The predation of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) has been posited as a potential route of infection. A comparison of existing diet studies revealed that while leopards in Nepal frequently predate on dogs, tigers do not, potentially supporting this hypothesis. However, further work, including molecular analyses, would be needed to confirm this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During excavations of the settlement‐site Ilgynly‐Depe in Southeastern Turkmenistan, for the first time, since investigations began in 1986, the remains of tiger were found. Two bones of this large predator were found in layers dated to the beginning of the third millennium BC. Among the bones that were found are the proximal part of the third hind metapodium and the second hind phalanx, possibly from the third digit of the hind leg. Characteristic cuts from skinning of an animal are on the second phalanx. This is the first evidence of hunting of large felid predators in the Chalcolithic time in South Turkmenistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reevaluate an accumulation of tiger(Panthera tigris)remains that was recovered from the Pleistocene'Hamakita Man'site in Hanamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture during the mid-1900s. The most abundantly preserved elements include vertebrae, humeri, ulnae, radii, hemipelves, femora, tibiae, and calcanea, but crania, teeth, ribs, metacarpals, sesamoids, and phalanges are also present. The minimum number of individuals based on any single element is four; however, we interpret that the assemblage comprises at least eight adults and one juvenile. It is unclear whether the tiger remains are the same age as the human remains also preserved at the Hamakita Man'site owing to the possibility of time-averaging of sedimentation and/or the redeposition of previously deposited bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed habitat occupancy and distribution of principal tiger (Panthera tigris) ungulate prey species to assess factors affecting their occurrence and their potential contribution to low tiger presence in the core part of the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, in northern Myanmar. We surveyed for signs on 1,651 km of transects partitioned into 554 sampling units between November 2007 and May 2008. By incorporating seven environmental and four social covariates, we predicted habitat occupancy rates of 0.76 for gaur (Bos gaurus), 0.91 for sambar (Rusa unicolor), 0.57 for wild pigs (Sus scrofa), and 0.89 for northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis). Overall, shorter Euclidean distances to ranger stations and trails, decreased stream density, and broadleaved evergreen/semi-deciduous forest and relatively rare rain-fed cropland habitat occurrence positively influenced prey habitat occupancy; conversely, shorter Euclidean distances to villages, roads, and streams, higher elevations, and occurrence of mixed broadleaved and needle-leaved forest habitat negatively influenced occupancy. In addition, Euclidean distance to ranger stations, trails, and roads positively affected species detections, whereas shorter Euclidean distance to villages and streams, high elevations, and high precipitation negatively affected detections. Results indicated that all four prey species were relatively well-distributed through the Sanctuary core area, but comparisons with indices of abundance elsewhere suggest that prey density was low and would not likely support many tigers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]