Tiger's urine andscat reveals more than presence;researchers distinguished tigers from leopards

The forests are ruled by the cat families. They are feral, ferocious and far too similar, so spotting them is never an easy task.

For researchers studying big cats, this means looking into the traces they leave behind. If you have ever been on a safari and your guide has pointed towards their paw prints, scratch marks or droppings, you know that they are onto something and so are the researchers.

While these signs have long helped researchers understand which animal might have passed through an area, it can leave behind traces of its presence without ever appearing in front of a camera or a person.