A specific interspecies interaction involves the canid Canis aureus and the large felid Panthera tigris. This association manifests where the smaller canid benefits from the presence and activities of the larger predator. The canid, often trailing behind the felid, scavenges on the remains of kills made by the tiger. This supplementary food source provides the jackal with sustenance it might not otherwise obtain as readily.
This scavenging behavior offers significant advantages to the jackal population, particularly in areas where prey availability is limited or seasonal. The dependable food supply increases the jackal’s survival rate and reproductive success. Historically, such interactions have likely played a crucial role in shaping the jackal’s distribution and behavior within tiger habitats. This relationship also reduces potential waste and carrion, contributing to ecosystem hygiene and indirectly benefitting other species.
