Abstract The connectivity between landscapes is an important aspect of the conservation of small and isolated populations of carnivores. We studied the natal dispersal pattern of Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) using motion-sensitive cameras and intensive searches from April 2005 to June 2011 in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR), western India. We tracked 29 tiger cubs (18 males, 11 females) born during the study until they established independent territories. All the females and 72.2% of the males attained maturity. The males had a greater probability (92.3%) of dispersal compared with the females (36.4%). Males dispersed an average distance of 27.0 ± 12.7 (SE) km (range = 4.5–148 km), while females dispersed an average distance of 5.7 ± 3.03 km (range = 4.6–25.8 km) from their natal area to establish their independent territories. The average age of dispersal was 38.6 ± 2.6 months (range = 24–44 months) for the males and 27.7 ± 2.7 months (range = 25–33 months) for the females. Seven of the 11 females bred at >48 months’ age, after establishing independent territories. Of the other females, three were translocated to another protected area, and one died after the dispersal. This study adds to the baseline information about the dispersal patterns of tigers, which is important in making conservation and management decisions for restoration of tiger populations.

中文翻译：

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印度西部半干旱栖息地老虎的亲缘分布和出生分布

摘要 景观之间的连通性是保护小型和孤立的食肉动物种群的一个重要方面。我们于 2005 年 4 月至 2011 年 6 月在印度西部的 Ranthambhore 老虎保护区 (RTR) 使用运动敏感相机和密集搜索研究了孟加拉虎 (Panthera tigris tigris) 的出生分布模式。我们追踪了研究期间出生的 29 只虎崽（18 只雄性，11 只雌性），直到它们建立了独立的领地。所有女性和72.2%的男性达到成熟。与女性 (36.4%) 相比，男性有更大的传播概率 (92.3%)。雄性平均分散距离为 27.0 ± 12.7 (SE) 公里（范围 = 4.5-148 公里），而雌性平均分散距离为 5.7 ± 3.03 公里（范围 = 4.6-25.8 公里），以建立自己的独立领土. 男性的平均传播年龄为 38.6 ± 2.6 个月（范围 = 24-44 个月），女性为 27.7 ± 2.7 个月（范围 = 25-33 个月）。在建立独立领土后，11 只雌性中有 7 只在 48 个月大时繁殖。其他雌性中，3 只被转移到另一个保护区，1 只在分散后死亡。这项研究增加了有关老虎分布模式的基线信息，这对于制定老虎种群恢复的保护和管理决策非常重要。并在驱散后死亡。这项研究增加了关于老虎分布模式的基线信息，这对于制定老虎种群恢复的保护和管理决策非常重要。并在驱散后死亡。这项研究增加了有关老虎分布模式的基线信息，这对于制定老虎种群恢复的保护和管理决策非常重要。