The appeal of taking Tiger holidays in India, for many, lies in the chance to see the majestic Bengal Tiger behaving entirely naturally, in its ever-changing habitat. The potential for travellers to be surprised, to have their sense of wonder invoked, is never-ending - however much the visitor knows about the creature. The same is true in the worlds of natural history and science: there is always something new that animals can teach us. Here are just a few of the innovations, theories and discoveries that the Tiger has helped us make - all the more reason to keep on watching, studying and protecting them.
Understanding Infrasound
The think functions of infrasound in the animal kingdom is something that has long fascinated biologists, and investigating the ways the Tiger might make use of it could help us learn more. The booming roar that can be heard across the jungle on Tiger holidays may sound impressive, but it is the frequencies below our hearing range that are the most interesting to scientists. Humans can hear sounds as low as 20 hertz, but these creatures can roar - and possibly hear - at lower frequencies, pitches known as infrasound. The infrasounds they emit can travel further than sounds at higher frequencies. Theories as to the reasons they use infrasound include warning rivals away from their ranges and attracting mates; if so, studying it will help us gain a deeper understanding of how these animals communicate, as well as how infrasound might be used by other species.
Investigating Prehistory
The animal that can be viewed on Tiger holidays today is remarkably similar to its ancestors of over 2.5 million years ago, meaning that its position as an apex predator was won early - nature, so to speak, got the big cat's genetic makeup just right, and it has hardly needed to evolve since then. For natural historians and palaeontologists, this makes the Tiger a living, breathing window onto a very different past, and one that can be traced a long way back. More study of fossils closely related to the modern creature could yet yield more answers about their origins - reaching back to prehistoric sabre-toothed felines, and beyond.
Monitoring Ecology
As an endangered species, Bengal Tigers are monitored as closely as possible by ecologists, but as anyone who's experienced the triumph of a sighting after patiently searching on their Tiger holidays can attest: they can be elusive. However, recent studies by the Wildlife Institute of India have shown that it is possible to get a strong estimate of an area's population from their paw prints and faeces - allowing conservationists to monitor the success of their work; this method could also be applied to other endangered species.
Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you're looking for Tiger holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to Tiger holidays in some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.