Prey selection in three large sympatric carnivores in Bandipur

The primary factor which facilitated prey resource partitioning among dhole Cuon alpinus, leopard Panthera pardus and tiger P. tigris was their size, which in turn determined the size of the prey killed. Kills over 100 kg formed 42% of tiger kills; 69% of kills by leopard weighed <50 kg, as did 74% of dhole kills. Dholes, a coursing predator, killed more chital Axis axis and sambar Cervus unicolor males and there seems to be a trend for tiger and leopard (stalkers) killing more does. Data suggest that prime age chital were relatively more free from dhole predation than the past prime animals. Dholes killed more chital fawns when compared with leopard kills. Chital, by its behaviour of yarding in open areas at night in and around Bandipur village in large groups, avoided tiger predation while sambar by preferring dense areas and living in smaller groups made itself more vulnerable. "