Tiger Tracking: How to Read Pugmarks & Decode Alarm Calls

In the dense forests of India, tracking a tiger requires both science and art. Two of the most reliable methods used by experienced naturalists and trackers are following pugmarks (footprints) and interpreting alarm calls. These ancient tracking techniques have been perfected over generations and remain essential skills even in the age of camera traps and GPS collars.

Tracking Tigers Through Pugmarks

Pugmarks are the footprints left by tigers as they patrol their territory. For the trained eye, these impressions tell detailed stories about the tiger that made them.

Identifying Fresh Pugmarks

Not all pugmarks are created equal. Fresh tracks offer the best chance of tracking a tiger:

• Look for sharp, clear edges in the impression
• Fresh pugmarks often show moisture differences from the surrounding soil
• Check for small details like claw marks or pad textures that weather away quickly
• Morning tracks in soft ground after overnight dew provide excellent tracking opportunities

Reading Size and Identity

Each tiger has a unique pugmark pattern, almost like a fingerprint:

• Adult male tigers leave pugmarks approximately 15-16 cm wide
• Female pugmarks typically measure 12-14 cm across
• The front paw prints are usually larger and rounder than the rear paws
• Experienced trackers can identify individual tigers by subtle differences in toe placement, pad shape, and overall size

Tigers have four toes and a heel pad, with the front feet showing a more circular shape than the slightly oblong rear feet.

Understanding Direction and Movement

Pugmarks reveal much more than just a tiger’s presence:

• The direction of travel is indicated by the way the toes point
• Stride length suggests the tiger’s pace and purpose
• Depth and pressure points show if the tiger was walking normally, stalking, or running
• Overlapping tracks might indicate mating behavior or territorial disputes

A steady, purposeful stride often means the tiger is patrolling territory, while irregular spacing with deeper toe impressions might suggest a hunting tiger.

Practical Pugmark Tracking

When tracking tigers by pugmark in the wild:

• Focus on areas with suitable substrate like sand, mud, or dust
• Check around water sources, especially in summer months
• Look for trails that connect different parts of the tiger’s territory
• Pay attention to game trails where prey animals frequently travel

Experienced trackers often make plaster casts of significant pugmarks to help identify individual tigers over time.

Mastering the Language of Alarm Calls

While pugmarks tell you where a tiger has been, alarm calls tell you where a tiger is now.

Recognizing Key Alarm-Callers

Different animals produce distinctive alerts when they spot a tiger:

• Sambar Deer: Their deep, bronchial “dhonk” is among the most reliable tiger indicators. A single call means the deer has spotted a tiger; continuous calling suggests the tiger is moving.
• Chital (Spotted Deer): These deer make a sharp, repeated “phoonk” sound, often accompanied by foot-stamping. Chital may continue calling for 20-30 minutes after spotting a predator.
• Langur Monkeys: Their harsh “kae-kae-kae” calls from treetops provide excellent aerial surveillance. Langurs often spot tigers from distances where ground-dwelling animals cannot.
• Barking Deer: The muntjac produces distinctive, dog-like barks, usually in series of two or three. They’re particularly sensitive to leopards but also alert to tigers.

Interpreting Alarm Call Patterns

The real skill lies in decoding what these calls mean:

• The intensity and frequency of calls indicate how close the tiger is
• The direction calls spread reveals the tiger’s movement pattern
• When calls suddenly stop, it often means the tiger has moved out of sight
• Simultaneous calls from different species suggest high certainty of a tiger’s presence

In the early morning or evening, a sequence of alarm calls moving in one direction creates a “sound corridor” that tracks the tiger’s path.

Creating a Mental Map

Experienced guides build a three-dimensional mental map using alarm calls:

• They note which species is calling and from what position
• They calculate roughly how far the caller is from the tiger based on intensity
• They track how the calls move through the forest over time
• They position vehicles strategically to intercept the tiger’s projected path

This requires intimate knowledge of both the terrain and animal behavior patterns.

Read More About Alarm Calls

Other Ways to Track Tigers

While pugmarks and alarm calls are the primary methods used during safaris, several other tracking techniques help in understanding tiger movements and behavior.

Tracking Based on Tiger Scat (Droppings)

Tiger droppings provide valuable insights into the animal’s diet, health, and territory marking:

• Fresh scat appears dark with a strong odor and often contains hair, bone fragments, and other undigested material
• The size of the scat can indicate whether it’s from an adult male, female, or sub-adult
• Tigers often defecate in prominent places along trails to mark territory
• Experienced trackers can estimate how recently a tiger passed by examining the moisture content and insect activity around scat
• DNA analysis of scat allows researchers to identify individual tigers without ever seeing them

Guides look for scat along forest roads, near water sources, and at territory boundaries where tigers frequently patrol.

Tracking Based on Scratch Marks and Scent Posts

Tigers leave intentional signs throughout their territory:

• Vertical scratch marks on trees (usually 1.5-2 meters high) serve as visual territory markers
• Scent marking through urine spraying creates “chemical signposts” that other tigers can detect
• Regular marking sites often show multiple scratches of different ages
• These marks are concentrated at territory boundaries and near breeding areas

Finding fresh scratch marks suggests recent tiger activity and is particularly common during mating season.

Camera Traps

While primarily used by forest officials and researchers, knowledge of camera trap placement can help understand tiger movement patterns:

• Strategically placed motion-triggered cameras capture tiger images as they walk past
• Officials position these at natural bottlenecks, along game trails, and near water sources
• The distinctive stripe pattern allows identification of individual tigers
• This technology helps establish population estimates and territory size

Though safari guests won’t use camera traps themselves, understanding their placement helps reveal likely tiger movement corridors that guides can monitor during safaris.

Combining Pugmarks and Alarm Calls

The true art of tiger tracking emerges when combining multiple methods. Expert naturalists weave together different tracking signs to create a complete picture:

• Use pugmarks to identify areas with recent tiger activity and determine the individual’s identity
• Listen for alarm calls to pinpoint current location and movement direction
• Factor in seasonal patterns – tigers follow predictable routes based on water needs and prey movement
• Consider time of day habits – many tigers use forest roads in early morning for easy movement
• Pay attention to territorial marking sites like scratch trees and spray points
• Look for secondary signs like broken vegetation or drag marks that might indicate a recent kill

Different seasons demand different approaches. During hot summers, tigers are drawn to the few remaining water sources, making their movements more predictable. In the wet monsoon season, when pugmarks quickly wash away, alarm calls become your most reliable tracking tool. Winter brings its own advantages as tigers often bask in sunny patches during cool mornings.

Practical Tips for Safari Guests

While tracking tigers requires years of experience, safari visitors can enhance their chances by:

• Train your ears to recognize alarm calls – the frantic “phoonk” of chital or the deep “dhonk” of sambar are tiger tracking gold
• Develop “jungle awareness” by noticing when birds suddenly go silent or prey animals freeze in place
• Scan dirt roads during morning drives for fresh pugmarks – your guide will appreciate an extra set of eyes
• Practice patience after hearing alarm calls – tigers move deliberately, and waiting in the right spot often pays off
• Bring binoculars to scan for subtle movements in the undergrowth where tigers prefer to hide
• Trust your guide’s experience and judgment about positioning and waiting time – they’re reading dozens of subtle forest signs

The forest speaks a complex language about its tigers. Those who learn to listen and read the signs experience a deeper connection with these magnificent predators and dramatically increase their chances of unforgettable encounters.