WaleedThe Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is a supercarnivore just like other species. It lives and hunts alone. Malayan tigers will maintain territories but the male’s range often overlaps with that of a female. It is the newest recognized species of a tiger and probably the smallest too. Let us discuss now what do Malayan tigers eat in the wild habitat and how do Malayan tiger eating habits change in captivity.
What Do Malayan Tigers Eat?
The Malayan tiger diet comprises ungulates such as wild boar, barking deer, serow, Bornean bearded pigs, and sambar deer. But it likes to eat pigs and deer which make up more than half of its entire diet. Malayan tigers are not even scared to take on larger preys such as Banteng, water buffalo and other large bovids.
Malayan tigers occasionally prey on young rhinos, sun bear’s cubs and young elephants. Studies suggest that they also consume gaur and tapir but these animals are probably not the part of the tiger’s regular menu. As humans begin to occupy tiger’s habitat, the latter are forced to rely on domestic livestock instead of wild species. In areas where the tiger’s density is lower, the population of its prey increases.
The wild pig is one such species which has lately turned out to be a real nuisance for humans because it destroys plantations and other croplands. According to conservationists, in areas where Malayan tigers are close to extinction, the population size of wild pigs is ten times more numerous as compared to those areas where tigers still occur. This shows that the decline in the tiger’s population might have eventually disturbed the entire ecosystem.
The Malayan tiger’s diet comprises ungulates such as wild boar, barking deer, serow, Bornean bearded pigs, and sambar deer.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Malayan tigers are quite happy living in areas where the population of sambar deer is greatest. The tiger’s density is observed at 1.95 per 100 square kilometers in protected areas.
They will supplement their regular diet with some insects, reptiles, fish, birds, rodents, and small mammals including porcupines and primates. Studies indicate that Malayan tigers must prey on 50 large animals every year to satisfy its appetite.
What Do Malayan Tigers Eat? – Video
References
Ickes, K. (2001). “Hyper-abundance of native wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in a lowland dipterocarp rain forest of Peninsular Malaysia”. Biotropica. 33 (4): 682–690. JSTOR 3593170. doi:10.1646/0006-3606(2001)033[0682:haonwp]2.0.co;2.
Yong, D. L.; Lee, P. Y.-H.; Ang, A.; Tan, K. H. (2010). “The status on Singapore island of the Eurasian wild pig Sus scrofa (Mammalia: Suidae)” (PDF). Nature in Singapore. 3: 227–237.
Diong, C. H. 1973. Studies of the Malayan wild pig in Perak and Johor. Malay. Nat. J 26:120–151.
