Urine and scat analysis may help track tigers and leopards without disturbing them
A new research approach uses chemical signatures in tiger and leopard urine and scat to estimate sex, age and reproductive status, offering a non-invasive way—t
Scientists have proposed a new wildlife monitoring method that studies chemical signals in tiger and leopard urine and scat. The approach aims to reveal details such as an animal’s sex, age and reproductive condition using lab analysis of samples, without the need for trapping or disturbing big cats.
The study was led by researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR) and published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology. It also involved support from the National Geographic Society and collaboration with Ahmedabad University. The team said the method could help conservation groups in tiger landscapes where animals are hard to observe.
How the chemical “fingerprints” work
Researchers analysed samples collected from zoos in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Vadodara, along with urine samples from individually identified wild tigers in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. They focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that appear in urine and scat. The researchers reported that these VOCs can act like chemical fingerprints, helping distinguish between tigers and leopards.
Beyond species identification, the chemical patterns were used to infer sex, age and reproductive status. The work highlights a gap in some monitoring systems: while certain methods can estimate how many animals are present, they often do not provide enough information about population structure and breeding condition.
Monitoring breeding and possible health signals
A first in tiger research described in the paper was the analysis of odours collected directly from wild tigers, not only from captive animals. The researchers also reported identifying a compound called 2-nonanol. They found it in higher concentrations in urine from pregnant and lactating tigresses compared to other females. This raises the possibility of monitoring breeding populations without capturing animals.
The researchers also pointed to future uses beyond reproduction. They reported detecting an unusually high level of another compound in scat from a captive tiger undergoing treatment for epilepsy. The scientists suggested that scent chemistry could eventually support non-invasive checks for health-related issues in wildlife.
The paper notes that the technique could be useful in Northeast India, where dense forests and difficult terrain can make conventional monitoring harder. The region includes several key reserves where tigers and leopards are found, and where camera-based methods may not always capture every elusive animal.
