Viral video shows 'unusual' encounter between tiger and leopard [WATCH]

A video footage of an unusual encounter between a tiger and a leopard has come to light. It displays the tiger rushing aggressively towards the leopard. However, in the end, none of them indulges in a fight. Now, this is quite unusual as tigers are known predators of leopards. Tigers prey on leopards to take their kill, or in defence of territory. Indian Forest Service officer Susanta Nanda posted the video on Twitter and called this behaviour “unnatural”. The video has 28k views.

In the viral video, you can witness the tiger carefully looking at the leopard from a distance. The latter is perched on a tree. Then, as the video moves forward, you see the tiger charging at the leopard. However, they do not attack each other. They look at each other for a while and then the tiger moves away.

The video caption reads,“This face-off between the tiger & leopard is bit unnatural. What do you think as to why both backed up without attacking each other? Peaceful coexistence?”

Here's the video:

The netizens had various theories as to why the tiger did not attack the leopard. “Submissive behaviour from the leopard. Rolling on back is to protect its spine and exposing the tiger to its sharp claws. Tiger backs off to avoid unnecessary injury. Ref: Richard Estes ‘A guide to behaviour of African mammals’,” a user wrote.

“Possibility of serious injury? Remember all the Jim Corbett stories where the killed man-eater was usually found to be debilitated due to injury - at times porcupine quills and the like. So not worth it from tiger's point of view,” another user wrote.

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