Tigers & Trees

Tigers use trees as natural scratching posts to mark their territory, sharpen their claws, and stretch their muscles, leaving behind visual and scent markers from glands in their paws.

They prefer sturdy, bark-textured trees that stand along frequently traveled routes within their range—commonly favoring species like Acacia, Ficus, and certain hardwoods such as teak (Tectona grandis) or sal (Shorea robusta) in India, depending on regional availability.

The bark of these trees provides resistance for effective claw engagement, and their vertical surfaces help make the scratch marks clearly visible to other tigers.

These marked trees often appear along ridgelines, game trails, or near watering holes, forming part of a larger scent-marking strategy that includes urine spraying and scat deposition.