All About Pets • Volume 3 • Issue 2 • Jan–Apr 2023 12 The stripes on the tiger, although very similar to that on the zebra, play very different roles. The solitary tiger needs to “hide” to approach its prey. The function of “disruptive coloration” helps distort the bulk of the tiger to blend in with the trees and tall grasses. The bright orange color of the tiger is not visible to the deer, as the deer can process only green and blue colors. This makes them color blind to the tigers that are moving in green forests and grasslands. There is another function that scientists have found regarding the unique pattern of stripes on tigers. This individuality allows scientists and forest officials to correctly establish the count of tigers in a particular area through camera trapping. Earlier, when only pug marks were taken into consideration for the tiger census, it was a difficult task to estimate the population. However, now, with camera trapping, it is easier to identify individual tigers and monitor the tigers’ movements and territories. Sources: Yao-Hua Law. The truth behind why zebras have stripes. https://www.bbc.com/future/ article/20191031-the-truth-behind-why-zebras-have-stripes#:~:text=While%20scientists%20still%20debate%20the,thermoregulation%20and%20protection%20from%20 predators. Published December 11, 2019. Accessed December 6, 2022. Marylou Tousignant. Learn more about zebras on their big day. https://www.washingtonpost.com/. January 30, 2018. Accessed December 6, 2022. Why do zebras have stripes? Scientists camouflaged horses to find out. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/science/zebra-stripes-flies.html) WildExplained. Animals with stripes (16 examples with pictures). https://wildexplained. com/. Accessed December 6, 2022. Cathy Brown. Why do tigers have stripes? https://www.nathab.com/blog/why-do-tigershave-stripes/#:~:text=A%20Tiger’s%20Stripes%20Provide%20Camouflage,pure%20 stealth%20for%20its%20hunting. Published April 25, 2022. Accessed December 6, 2022. Andrew Cushing. Why do tigers have stripes? https://theconversation.com/. Published November 23, 2020. Accessed December 6, 2022. World Wildlife Fund. How scientists count tigers in India? https://www.worldwildlife. org/. Published January 27, 2022. Accessed December 6, 2022. Significance of the Stripe Pattern in Tigers
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