Activities patterns of the Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) and prey species in Peninsular Malaysia

The activity pattern of the Indochinese tiger, Panthera tigris corbetti, in Peninsular Malaysia is described, and related to activity patterns of tiger prey species.. Data were collected from six sites in Perak, Terengganu and Kelantan using infra-red based camera-traps. Tigers were most active during the hours of dawn (6;00 -8:00) and of dusk (18.00 -20,00), whereas the most frequently encountered tiger prey species, excluding mousedeer (Tragulus spp.), were most active either by day (7:00-19:00) or by night (20;00 - 6:00), with these periods of peak activity either beginning or finishing during the hours of dawn and of dusk. We propose that tigers are most active at dawn and at dusk in order to maximise encounters with both types of prey species (i.e. those primarily active either by day or by night).