In the heart of India's national parks, a chilling reality unfolds as Tigers , known as majestic apex predators, turn their sights on an unexpected target: Dogs. Alarming videos shared on social media capturing these fierce encounters have surfaced, making us curious about the relationship between big cats and dogs.

Yes! Tigers do prey on Dogs
For the proof, a video shared on the official YouTube channel of Ranthambore National Park shows a dramatic encounter involving tigress Sultana. The footage begins with a stray dog standing near parked safari vehicles. Suddenly, the tigress dashes past the cars and seizes the dog by its neck. In the background, tourists can be heard urging their drivers to reverse the vehicles as fast as possible, capturing the tense atmosphere of the moment and raising concerns about wildlife interactions in the park.


Why do Tigers prey on Dogs ?
Tigers are known as highly territorial predators. They instinctively react to perceived threats within their habitat. When dogs wander into their territory, whether for food or due to displacement, tigers may see them as intruders. This instinctive behaviour helps tigers protect their territory and maintain dominance over their environment.

How are humans responsible?
Human activities significantly contribute to the presence of dogs in tiger habitats. Stray dogs enter national parks from neighboring villages in the hunt for food or due to urban expansion and deforestation. The incursion makes encounters with tigers more probable. In other cases, stray dogs are abandoned around forested regions and inadvertently find their way into protected zones. Though people may not release these dogs intentionally into the wild, their presence can still disrupt local ecosystems and create a dangerous situation for both tigers and dogs.

Will this affect the Tigers?
The presence of stray dogs poses several threats to tiger populations. Not only do they compete for resources, but they also carry diseases that can spread to wild animals. According to a report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), feral dogs have been detected in many of India’s tiger reserves, posing risks not only to ungulates but also to carnivores like tigers due to disease transmission.

Moreover, dogs can pose a health risk to tigers. They are carriers of diseases like the canine distemper virus (CDV), which can be fatal to tiger populations. In the past, outbreaks of this virus among big cats have been linked to interactions with dogs.

To cope with these challenges, various initiatives have been proposed. Vaccination programs for stray dogs, stricter enforcement of park boundaries, and community awareness campaigns are crucial steps towards reducing dog encroachment into tiger habitats. These measures aim to protect both tigers and their ecosystems while addressing the underlying issues caused by human activities.

While tigers do prey on dogs under certain circumstances, this behaviour is closely linked to territorial instincts. Human actions play a significant role in increasing encounters between these two species. Addressing this issue is vital not only for protecting tiger populations but also for maintaining ecological balance.