I am face-to-face with a tiger in the wild. What is my best survival strategy?

Question

There is a safe refuge about 50 metres away.

Is it better to:

a. Remain perfectly immobile;
b. Move very slowly in the direction of the refuge, keeping my back away from the tiger at all times;
c. Run directly at the tiger with arms flailing, yelling various random song lyrics as loudly as possible?

In general (impossible though that is), would the strategy of doing something as 'unpreylike as possible' deter a wild carnivore better than standing still, assuming physical escape is impossible?

I've already prayed to every deity I know of.

The tiger giggled when I bent over to kiss my a*s goodbye, but once I straightened up he gave me that scary stare again. So I'm back to square one.

MUMMMMMY....

Answer 1

c. Run directly at the tiger with arms flailing, yelling various random song lyrics as loudly as possible?

You are making yourself look larger and noisier than the tiger just might work


Quote from page below
Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Keep everyone in your group together, appearing as one large shape to the lion. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud, low voice. Convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to the lion.

Answer 2

There are too many variables involved to allow a
good general answer. By face to face I assume
you mean very close, probably within touching
distance. You would be very unlikely to come this
close to a wild tiger unless it is a maneater, in
which case you are lost if it is in hunting mode. If it
isn't you may have a chance. You might try looking
at a book by Jim Corbett, I think it is titled Maneaters of Kumaon. but don't remember for sure.

People have come fairly near wild tigers without
being harmed. One article I read mentioned two
men riding bicycles on a narrow road in India, and
seeing a tiger approaching on the road. They just
got off their bicycles and stood still, and the tiger
went on past them.

Answer 3

I don't know if this works for a tiger but the recommendations if you are confronted by bear are to make yourself look as large as possible. Take off your back pack and hold it above your head etc.
I would be running from a tiger, I've seen footage of a tiger running so fast and since their a paws are so large he ran on top of water for about 150m before falling in and killing a water buffalo

Answer 4

I would say b.
they prefer to attack their prey from behind so keep facing it (this is true of lions so I assume tigers are much the same). It will be less likely to attack if you are facing it.
Also if you move slowly away from the tiger it will see it as you backing down and leaving it's territory and it may leave you alone. If you approach the tiger it will surely see this as a threat and will take you down.

Answer 5

Well it all looks good on type print. However, my outlook on this would be you would forget all this fancy crap you just wrote and freeze. May even soil your pants. So, my best suggestion would be: look this vicious animal in the eyes, slowly bend over with legs apart. bend your head as far down as possible and back towards your butt and kiss your butt goodbye.......sorry, that is more than likely what will happen. grrrrrrrrrr go get em tiger

Answer 6

Try mimic as lion. As the king of the jungle, the tiger may try to escape!

Answer 7

B . , Or drop to your knees and pray for forgiveness from your sins . I would have to change my shorts .

Answer 8

i'd say stand perfectly immobile, but first make sure your not bleeding.

Answer 9

don't do anything, don't make a movement. act like you're already dead.

Answer 10

give him ahuge hug