Why animals fight: Territory, survival and the nature of conflict in the wild

Both contestants first show off their prowess through posturing and roaring (and yowling the way domestic cats do) and are not really willing to put their claws and teeth to work. Both know that if they are injured, their future prospects for hunting successfully are bleak. Sometimes, of course, the intruder may think he or she is stronger than the rightful occupant and battle may commence. And there’s no love lost even between, say, mother and daughter, in such confrontations. Famous and formidable tigress queens in Ranthambore National Park have been driven out of their prime territories by their grown-up daughters. When two grown young males meet, even if they are brothers, the ensuing fight might even lead to the death of one.

Lions may be even more ambitious. A pride is composed of a group of lionesses (usually sisters), their cubs and a shaggy overlord who is the protector of the group. The lionesses usually do all the hunting, while His Majesty enjoys the spoils; he has the onerous responsibility of keeping the family safe. And out there, there may be coalitions of two or three landless young thugs on the lookout for territory of their own. For a single male to fight off three rogues is a tall order and he is often ousted, either killed or sent off into the hinterland, while a dreadful outcome awaits his erstwhile family. The intruding males promptly dispatch all the cubs, much to the anguish of their mothers, to ensure that the next generation of cubs will have their genes. Cheetah brothers, too, may form such coalitions. It makes hunting easier for them because they are not the strongest of the big cats while hyenas are everywhere, always on the lookout for kills to steal.

In some groups of animals, it is family that comes first. Wild dogs and meerkats, for instance, will protect their clan to death or swiftly shift dens if the threat is too dangerous. Wild dogs live in families, where all the members help in babysitting and feeding the cubs but it is only the alpha male and alpha female that breed. Meerkats are ruled by iron queens who ensure absolute discipline. They will lead a war charge on any other group of rivals that may intrude on their territory. And God forbid if they catch a traitor in their midst.

I have watched Rhesus macaques go to war on the Delhi Ridge. It’s not something you would like to get in the middle of. One group, stronger and more aggressive (like some countries), concealed themselves in a thorny dry section up the flanks of a slope, watching a smaller group peaceably feeding in the manicured section below. With blood-curdling screams and shrieks they suddenly poured down the slope like the hordes of Genghis Khan, taking the smaller clan completely by surprise, scattering them in panic and taking their territory. Often, there are casualties in such encounters and as always it is the babies that suffer the most.

Birds, too, will aggressively defend their claimed territories. I have watched little cormorants play ‘king of the castle’ for the occupancy of a prime viewing spot on the top of a bare tree, with one bird repeatedly divebombing the other trying to unseat it. A magpie robin will break off mid-melody to furiously chase away a rival and hummingbirds will fight each other for access to the most nectar-rich of blooms in their patch.

Insects, too, are not averse to such behaviour. On the Ridge once, I watched a coppersmith (who had done all the diligent hardwork) first being ousted from the neat hole it had excavated by a black-rumped flameback, which in turn was turfed out by a swarm of bees who wanted the place for a hive.

Dragonflies will patrol air corridors they claim for themselves, flying up and down them and will not hesitate to charge you if you get in their way. And just try to sneak into an ant colony as an immigrant. I have watched a huge black stormtrooper ant, stand guard at the entrance to its colony, ferociously dispatch a refugee who trundled up, obviously with no passport or visa.

We alas, are now doing that to refugees who do have valid documentation and it’s being done by those whose not too distant ancestors had only guns in their hands and greed in their hearts.