Two tigers identified as sisters in Ranthambore National Park in northern India were strolling along near a dirt road with tourists watching close by when suddenly a knock-down, drag-out fight broke out.
The tigers roared and tussled and swung paws at each other for 10 seconds before pulling away, with one lying down but keeping a sharp eye on the other, which wandered away.
Parveen Kaswan, identified by India Today as a member of the Indian Forest Services, posted the video on Twitter, writing, “Clash of the titans.”
Clash of the titans. Only from India. Best thing you will watch. Received via whatsapp. pic.twitter.com/36qqvhkG5F
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 19, 2021
Several people replied to identify the fighting tigers.
“That’s Riddhi and Siddhi,” one commenter wrote, and others concurred. “Daughters of Arrowhead. Arrowhead is granddaughter of the legendary Macchli from Ranthambore. They have been even spotted fighting with their mother Arrowhead for the territory recently. It will be interesting to see who finally gets it.”
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Tigers are solidary creatures and when they fight it’s usually about territory, and capturing a squabble, especially among sisters, is a rarity.
In general, tigers will try to avoid fighting, unless they deem it absolutely necessary. This is usually thought to be essential only within the sphere of mating. Males will fight over one female, and the strongest male, the winner, will have the privilege of mating with her. Still, tigers prefer to part ways and pursue a more peaceful lifestyle elsewhere than to fight.
Because tigers are such reclusive, private animals, their social structure and family structure is not always easy to define within strict parameters, since human beings are not easily allowed access into their lives. They may differ slightly from one area to another. Observing tigers in the wild is already a rare privilege. Without urgent conservation efforts in place, it may, one day, be an impossibility.
Fortunately, these tigers didn’t fight until killing the other, which does happen.
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