Hunting

Photos: Mother Bear Fights Off Tiger

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By Alex Robinson

Updated on Apr 20, 2021 2:38 AM EDT

3 minute read

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This summer photographer Aditya Singh witnessed a mother Asiatic black bear fight off a tiger in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in India. Singh caught the whole battle on camera in the following photo series. All photos by Aditya Singh
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The mother bear carrying her two cubs on her back. Asiatic black bears, also known as moon bears, are similar to their cousins the American black bear. Females typically weigh between 110 to 275 pounds, they have thick black hair and strong, sharp claws. They live in south Asia, India, Russia and Japan.
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Unlike American black bears, Asiatic black bears have a thick mane of fur around their necks. Also, the bears are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Resources.
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Tigers are the largest of the four big cats and can grow up to nine feet in length from head to tail and weigh more than 500 pounds. They're one of the most powerful predators in the world.
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But with her cubs in danger, the bear didn't back down. In fact, she charged the tiger.
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Asiatic black bears are more aggressive than American black bears. More of their diet consists of meat (American black bears are herbivores for most of the year) and they have been known to attack humans. They typically attack the face and head, badly mauling and scratching their victims.
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It's rare for bears and tigers to square off like this. A tiger's typical table fare consists of deer, buffalo and wild pigs. They also do most of their hunting at night. Tigers have been know to eat up to 60 pounds of meat at one time.
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Amazingly, this bear had already fought off another tiger just minutes before. By the time this tiger came around, a small group of tourists had gathered.
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The brawl lasted for about three minutes though neither the tiger nor the bear were severely injured. In the end, bear ran the tiger off. See how the fight ends in the following slides.
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After fending off two tigers, the mother bear walks off with her cubs. More Animal Photo Galleries
– Bear Vs Bison: A Yellowstone Rundown
– Black Bear Takes Down Wounded Buck
– Anatomy of a Buck Brawl: A 50-Minute Fight Between Two Rutting Whitetails
– Yellow Lab Chases Down a Coyote
– Wolf Hunt Caught on a Trail Camera

In this incredible photo series mother bear fights off a tiger to defend her cubs.