Tigers and Their Prey: Predicting Carnivore Densities from Prey Abundance

Using long-term field data from Indian reserves, this study tested how strongly tiger numbers are governed by the abundance of wild ungulate prey. The authors combined prey density surveys with camera-trap tiger estimates across multiple sites and found a tight relationship: tiger density rises predictably with prey biomass. The result provided a quantitative basis for the long-held idea that empty forests cannot hold tigers, even when habitat looks intact. It implied that recovering deer, wild pig, and gaur populations is often the limiting step for tiger recovery, not habitat alone. The finding reshaped management priorities, directing attention to prey protection and anti-poaching of ungulates as prerequisites for big cat persistence. It remains a core reference for setting realistic carrying-capacity expectations in tiger landscapes.