RIP Tigress Queen of Ranthambore

Machhli, the legendary tigress. (Photo: Sundeep Bhutoria)

It was not that I was getting news of Machhli because she was not eating food in the last four-five days. I do get updates of Ranthambore daily because of my personal passion and interest in wild life. As soon as I got the expected news of Machhli’s demise, I felt a terrible loss — almost personal.

My relations with this tigress dates back to several years ago. That’s why this anticipated news forced me to make a couple of phone calls to re-confirm. Why not She has cheated death so many times in the past. Every time I went to Ranthambore my aim was to see Machhli and compare her with those pictures when I saw her last. The beautiful tigress was named so because of the marks on her face that resembled fish. She was indeed the most sought after and hence the most photographed cat.

Machhli’s life story is no less amazing. She has come out of the jaws of death several times — the most talked about is her fierce battle with a crocodile that led to the loss of her two canines later, but otherwise remained unscathed. Despite all her battles she managed to defy the usual lifespan of a tiger that is not more than 15 years. Machhli was almost 20!

Machhli with her large family consisting of 11 cubs, of which seven were females, has her blood in most of the tigers found in the forests of Rajasthan. The tigress earned several sobriquets as Queen Mother of the tigers, Lady of the Lakes or Tigress Queen of Ranthambore. It is said that she alone was the cause of earning revenue worth more than $10 million every year such was the fame and attraction of her majestic look.

She ruled over a large kingdom and it is said that even tigers were intimidated by her because of her strength. Several films have been shot and books written about her. A darling of animal lovers, she has also managed to bag an award for herself — the TOFT Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to conservation.

I have seen and heard people regretting about not seeing her on their visits to Ranthambore and that this would make them go back again — all for the sighting of royal Machhli. There have been many times in the recent past when for days she would not be sighted. During this period of absence people would often apprehend that perhaps she had died somewhere. With her age factor, failing health, even fights with her own cubs she perhaps preferred to lie low. But again when she was sighted, animal lovers rejoiced.

Of late, forest officials fed her as she was unable to hunt much and would remain hungry. With the death of Machhli or T-16 the legendary tigress, a curtain falls marking the end of an era. Not only Ranthambore, but entire wildlife of the country has lost its sparkling jewel. With her no more will Ranthambore have the same charm for Machhli fans and animal lovers all over the world R.I.P. Machhli. We all will miss you.

Sundeep Bhutoria is the author of The Safari