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As you can see in the image above, when a predator is not obviously present, the level of vigilance/alarm/nonchalance exhibited by its prey can vary greatly, from one individual to another.
This is true even within a small, close-spaced, single-species group.
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Spotted deer – aka “axis deer” or “chital” – are India’s emblematic deer; Axis axis is also India’s most widespread, most commonly-encountered deer species.
The local common name’s resemblance to “cheetah” is no coincidence; both names refer to the animal’s spotted coat.
Cheetahs were hunted to extinction in India; if current attempts to reintroduce them prove successful, cheetahs will resume their former place in the chital’s long list of predators.
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As you can see, India’s wild boar and spotted deer (aka “chital” or “axis deer”) are acutely aware that they rate highly on the list of tigers’ “preferred” prey!
The full list of tigers’ prey is long and sometimes-surprising; it ranges from termites to baby elephants.
