A tigress prowling through the forest stumbles upon what appears to be an abandoned deer lying on the road – an effortless meal waiting to be claimed. Little does she know that around the corner, a massive male tiger lurks nearby waiting to defend his hard-earned dinner…
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Vijay Kumawat, a seasoned safari guide captured this footage while on safari in Ranthambore National Park. As the group made their way down a forest road, they couldn’t believe their luck!
In the middle of the road, a male tiger rested with the throat of a deer in its jaws! The deer was still grasping at life when the male tiger decided to wander off into the forest.
The safari group decided to stick around a little longer to wait for the tiger to come back, but none of them could believe what happened next!
Emerging from the Shadows
A tigress suddenly appeared on the road in front of the safari van! Driven by the scent of a recent kill, this female knew she had to act fast if she wanted a shot at a meal.
She cautiously approached the deer and began her feast on its hind leg. Ever so cunning, the tigress knew her dinner’s killer was likely nearby, so she continuously scanned her surroundings to sense any threat.
After a few moments, the tigress spotted the massive male who made the kill. Immediately, she hissed in attempt to deter him but quickly realized how overpowered she was.
In a last-ditch attempt, the tigress quickly grabbed the deer and started to drag it away from the male in hopes of keeping the bountiful meal all to herself. Before long, the male decided he wouldn’t let this tigress walk off with his kill without a fight – but could she outwit him?
Clash of the Cats
Even though the male was much bigger than her, the tigress decided she wouldn’t leave such a prize without a fight. She assumed a defensive position, crouching low to the ground with her ears flat.
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Vijay and his group held their breath – how could she possibly win this fight? In a flash, the female sprang up with her paws in the air – an attempt to ward off the male.
Although this looked terrifying to the onlookers, the male was completely unfazed by her shot at intimidation, knowing his substantial body size could easily overtake her.
In a flash, Vijay watched a blur of teeth and claws as the tigers went at each other. The sound of their terrifying roars shook the earth beneath the safari vehicle!
The female repeatedly jumped up from her crouched position, knowing she had to play it safe. Meanwhile, the male kept backing her away from the deer with his overpowering body.
In another round of attacks, the female lost her footing and nearly slid down the hill. Vijay and his group were silenced by the intensity of the situation.
Power Demands Submission
Finally, after putting up a good fight, the female understood there was no way she could overpower the giant male. She lay on the ground with her ears back in submission as the male dragged his prize down the hill.
Tigers are solitary hunters, but when their territories overlap, intense confrontations like this are bound to occur. Male tigers are fiercely territorial, and they don’t take kindly to intruders.
While this male tiger enjoyed his well-earned feast, the female learned that sometimes it’s better to concede rather than waste energy and risk one’s life.