Brutal Tiger fight in Tiger Canyon South Africa

[treeduck]

It was a cold misty morning at Tiger Canyons in South Africa, when the game drive came upon the two tiger males, Sunderban and Shy Boy posturing for a fight.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E25C00000578-638_964x613.jpg

 

Sunderban was in Shy Boy's territory and was the bigger and more aggressive of the two. Five years old Sunderban weighed easily 200 kilograms while Shy Boy 8 years old weighs less, maybe 185 kilograms.

 

This fight had been building up for months and I was interested to see whether Sunderban would take his coalition partner, Mahindra, into the fight. If he won the fight, Sunderban would get access to a larger territory and 4 additional females. The stakes were high, to say the least.

 

Shy Boy did his best to bluff his way out of the fight but Sunderban was pressing for the kill. After a number of boxing sessions, Shy Boy tried to take refuge in the river. Launching off the bank, Sunderban had the advantage of height and knocked Shy Boy down and got him in the death grip, by the throat.

 

 

I have filmed many fights, kills and brutal scenes during my time but this was by far the most raw, the most ferocious. What made it so emotional for me, is that I had been with both these tigers as they grew up from cubs.

 

Sunderban was abandoned at birth, so I hand raised him. The hours spent in the canyon swimming with him and his sisters Zaria and Shine, are some of the happiest days of my life.

 

Shy Boy as a cub would crawl across and smack the camera off the bean bag when I came too close to his kill.

 

In short these two tigers are great friends of mine and I value that friendship greatly. I was desperately hoping for a friendly outcome but it was not to be.

 

I could relate to Shy Boy situation as he lay in the great jaws of Sunderban, the life draining from his body.

 

All I could do was stay neutral, stay calm and record the unbelievable scene unfolding in front of my eyes.

 

Four minutes, five minutes went by. Shy Boy has had it! He's out of strength and he's out of air.

 

Suddenly Sunderban thinking Shy Boy was dead, relaxes his grip momentarily. Shy Boy kicks ferociously catching Sunderban throwing him backwards. Like a flash, Shy Boy is back on his feet, boxing, ripping, fighting for his life.

 

The primeval scene is one of the rawest and most brutal I have ever witnessed. Both tigers are a brown colour from the mud, the eyes and white teeth stand out against the dark background. The red blood flows from both tigers and steam rises in clouds from their bodies and snarling mouths.

 

Eight professional cameras photograph from three viewing vehicles and I have no doubt that the images will travel instantly across the world.

 

 

Hardened photographers elated by the images they have captured are also shocked at the brutality and ferocity of the fight.

 

Personally I am emotionally drained by the ordeal, stunned at the raw power of the tigers, saddened that two of my tiger friends are in such a brutal fight.

 

Like a triumphant boxer who jumps onto the ropes after victory, Sunderban goes onto the highest rock to proclaim his victory.

 

Shy Boy is lying in some rocks, inaccessible to me and a vehicle. Is he hurt? What terrible wounds have been inflicted? Will Sunderban attack him again? What could I have done to prevent this terrible tragedy? These are the thoughts racing through my mind.

 

One thing is certain, the expansion of the tiger range at Tiger Canyons which started on the 1st July 2013, cannot came soon enough.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990B8DF00000578-385_964x642.jpg

 

 

This is the incredible moment a pair of bloodied tigers slashed each other with their claws in a dramatic fight over territory.

 

The dramatic battle was caught on camera at the world famous 'Tiger Canyons' in the Londolozi private game reserve in Pretoria, South Africa. The clash erupted after one of the tigers delivered a vicious blow to the neck of its rival. Believing it to be dead, the tiger released its opponent from its jaws but instead of the fight coming to a grizzly end, the two broke out in a second, even more savage struggle.

 

 

German photographer, Marion Vollborn, captured the predatory pair while on safari tour.

 

Ms Vollborn said 'The day before I took these pictures, our group spotted two male tigers pacing along each of their own territory borders.

 

'There had been a female tiger who had mated with both males and there was a very tense atmosphere but nothing had yet happened.

 

'In the morning we all suddenly heard a loud roar and we drove immediately towards the noise.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E3CC00000578-478_964x641.jpg

 

 

'The male tigers we had been observing the day before were in the water hidden by reeds, one had bitten the other on the throat and they both remained still for several minutes.

 

'It was horrific to see, the tigers were covered in mud, blood and water we could see them both breathing heavily because of the cold air.

 

'One of the tigers assumed his rival to be dead and it stopped biting but the bitten tiger saw his chance to escape and save his own life.

 

'All of a sudden a spectacular fight for life and death began, again and again the males clawed at each other.

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E32600000578-370_964x641.jpg

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E41E00000578-895_964x641.jpg

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E40A00000578-667_964x642.jpg

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990B62F00000578-407_964x869.jpg

 

 

'The roaring was unbelievably loud, everyone who was there watching was clearly scared and I will never forget those sounds.

 

'The two opponents went from the reeds to the shrubbery and finally to an open area, both were bleeding heavily and we all feared the worst.

 

'After 45 minutes of fighting a winner emerged, it was the significantly stronger and younger male.

 

'Luckily, both survived the battle and their wounds are now healed.

 

'For a photographer it's spectacular to see something like this, but as an animal lover it makes it very hard to watch.'

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E38400000578-473_470x621.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990B3EC00000578-344_470x621.jpg

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/03/article-2517494-1990E2D500000578-608_964x641.jpg

[Ancient Ways]

Why are there tigers in Africa?

[treeduck]

Why are there tigers in Africa?

Conservation, wild tigers in Asia, India, Sumatra and Siberia etc are dwindling to the point of extinction. In the future the only wild tigers in existence will be in game reserves like this one and most of these are in Africa.

[crimsonfrippy]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

[Babycat]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

[Tombstone Mountain]

Gulp

[treeduck]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

[treeduck]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

[Babycat]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

[crimsonfrippy]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

[Babycat]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

 

I agree - it was hard to look at. But still, thanks for posting, Duck.

[treeduck]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

You did what Baby?? Slept with a box of guys lyin in chocolate? :o

[treeduck]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

 

I agree - it was hard to look at. But still, thanks for posting, Duck.

Tigers will fight! http://i.imgur.com/LZLq9Cj.gif

[Babycat]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

You did what Baby?? Slept with a box of guys lyin in chocolate? :o

 

Belgian chocolates, my sweet! :P

[Babycat]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

 

I agree - it was hard to look at. But still, thanks for posting, Duck.

Tigers will fight! http://i.imgur.com/LZLq9Cj.gif

 

That emote is me in a nutshell

[LyndseyG]

Wow! Brutal stuff! Nature at its most stark!

 

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

 

:clap:

[treeduck]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

 

I agree - it was hard to look at. But still, thanks for posting, Duck.

Tigers will fight! http://i.imgur.com/LZLq9Cj.gif

 

That emote is me in a nutshell

http://i.imgur.com/LZLq9Cj.gif http://i.imgur.com/LZLq9Cj.gif <<<<< me and Baby!

[LyndseyG]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

 

The seashells?? Nice! :drool:

[treeduck]

Wow! Brutal stuff! Nature at its most stark!

 

Great post! Thanks for sharing!

 

:clap:

:sundog:

[treeduck]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

You did what Baby?? Slept with a box of guys lyin in chocolate? :o

 

Belgian chocolates, my sweet! :P

[treeduck]

That was hard to look at but thanks for posting it, treeduck.

 

That is what happens in nature.

 

:givebeer:

 

:D-13:

 

I agree - it was hard to look at. But still, thanks for posting, Duck.

[Babycat]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

 

The seashells?? Nice! :drool:

 

Yep! Gorgeous! :drool: :drool:

[LyndseyG]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

 

The seashells?? Nice! :drool:

 

Yep! Gorgeous! :drool: :drool:

 

Aw! I want some now! :drool: :drool: :drool:

[Babycat]

Thanks, Duck! :smoke:

:hi:

 

Where have you been lately Baby? You been busy? :yay:

 

Slept off a box of Guylian chocolates..! :drool:

 

The seashells?? Nice! :drool:

 

Yep! Gorgeous! :drool: :drool:

 

Aw! I want some now! :drool: :drool: :drool:

 

Great big square box with 3 trays of shells and one with exquisite bundles of scrumptiousness in little cupcake type paper trays! Phwoar! :drool: :drool: :drool:

[1-0-0-1-0-0-1]

A Tiger fight. In Tiger Canyon.

 

Go figure.