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NDTV
5 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Watch: Ranthambore's Iconic Tigress Arrowhead's Final Walk Captured On Camera
Tigress Arrowhead (T-84), one of Ranthambore's most celebrated big cats, passed away at the age of 14, forest officials confirmed on Thursday. Her death came just hours after her daughter was relocated to another tiger reserve, marking an emotional end to a storied legacy in Indian wildlife history. The death of this beloved animal has devastated wildlife enthusiasts. Noted photographer Sachin Rai, who had closely followed her life since she was a cub, paid tribute with a poignant video capturing her final moments. He shared a heart-wrenching account of Arrowhead's final moments. In an emotional Instagram post, he described watching her struggle to walk near Padam Talab on June 17, taking a few weak steps before collapsing under a tree, knowing instinctively that the end was near. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sachin Rai (@sachin_rai_photography) "On the evening of June 17th, I witnessed what would likely be the last walk of the legendary tigress 'Arrowhead' at the banks of Padam Talab, a place she had ruled with grace and strength for many years. It was heartbreaking to see her struggle, attempting to rise and take a few feeble steps before collapsing again," he wrote. "Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task. Eventually, she reached a tree and lay beneath it. In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near, just a matter of a day or two," he further mentioned. "I have followed Arrowhead's journey since she was a tiny cub. From those early days to watching her grow into a powerful tigress who claimed her mother's territory, every chapter of her life was a testament to resilience." Born to tigress Krishna (T-19) and the granddaughter of the legendary Machhli (T-16), Arrowhead was part of a famed tiger bloodline. She had been suffering from advanced bone cancer and had been under observation for weeks. Her passing symbolizes the end of an era for Ranthambore, where her lineage had long been a symbol of strength, beauty, and survival.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Indian tigress dies after long battle with bone cancer
One of India 's most iconic wild tigers, Arrowhead of Ranthambore, has died after a long battle with illness, shortly after her daughter was relocated following fatal attacks. Arrowhead, also called Lady of the Lake for her crocodile hunting skills, was found dead near Jogi Mahal in the Ranthambore reserve in western India on Thursday. She was around 14 years old. The tigress, officially designated T-84, had reportedly suffered from a bone tumour. She had stopped eating on Monday and appeared extremely thin and weak in her final video. An autopsy confirmed multiple organ failure. Forest officials cremated her body following National Tiger Conservation Authority protocols, with a gathering of wardens, wildlife photographers, and local conservationists present. The tigress, named for the distinct arrow-shaped mark on her cheek, was known for her fierce independence and unusual hunting skills, including eating crocodiles. Just days before her death, she was reportedly seen taking down a crocodile near Padam Talab, in a powerful echo of her grandmother, Machhli, Ranthambore's most famous big cat and original 'crocodile hunter.' Arrowhead's final moments were captured by Sachin Rai, a wildlife photographer who had tracked her since she was a cub. 'It was heartbreaking to see her struggle, attempting to rise and take a few feeble steps before collapsing again,' he wrote in a post accompanying video footage. 'Eventually, she reached a tree and lay beneath it. In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near.' Arrowhead was the daughter of tigress Krishna and had inherited a prime territory in the reserve around Padam Talab. She raised ten cubs from four litters, and six of them survive her. She had several confrontations with male tigers over the years and even her own daughter, Riddhi, who eventually displaced her. Arrowhead's death came just hours after another of her daughters, Kankati, was tranquilised and relocated to the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. Kankati had recently been involved in fatal attacks on a forest ranger and a 7-year-old child. 'It is a disheartening coincidence that she passed away on the same day when her daughter was being shifted,' field director Anoop K R said, according to the Hindustan Times. Arrowhead's death sparked an outpouring of tributes. Ranthambore's Instagram account posted: 'She was a symbol of grace, strength and motherly spirit.' Mr Rai echoed the sentiment, calling her 'a true tigress in every sense'. 'Arrowhead was a symbol of wild grace, of power tempered by patience, of survival against all odds,' he said. For many in India's wildlife conservation community, Arrowhead's death marks the end of an era – another link to Machhli lost. Her legacy, though, is being carried forward by the next generation of big cats.
The Print
11 hours ago
- General
- The Print
Ranthambore's queen Arrowhead was an alpha tigress even through illness. ‘She lived a full life'
Eleven-year-old Arrowhead was found dead two days later near Jogi Mahal after fighting bone cancer for months, senior officials from Ranthambore said. She passed away just hours after her daughter, RBT 2507, known locally as 'Kankati', was relocated to the Mukundra Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Kota. 'On the evening of 17 June, I witnessed what would be the last walk of the legendary tigress 'Arrowhead' at the banks of Padam Talab, a place she had ruled with grace and strength for many years,' he said. New Delhi: When wildlife photographer Sachin Rai shot T-84, the iconic tigress of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve—fondly known as Arrowhead—on 17 June, she looked visibly frail. The tigress, who was once rightly titled the 'Queen of Ranthambore' for her larger-than-life presence and precise hunting skills, now gasped after every few steps. As Arrowhead breathed her last Thursday, Rai remembered the 'final walk of a legend' with a hint of grief and a great deal of awe. 'Arrowhead was more than just a tigress—she was the symbol of grace, strength and motherly spirit. Her legacy will live on through her cubs and in the hearts of all wildlife lovers,' Ranthambore Tiger Reserve said in a statement announcing her death. Arrowhead was among India's most well-known tigers. She is the granddaughter of 'Machli' (T-16)—the poster child of India's tiger conservation efforts and once the oldest living tiger in the world, having lived till the age of 20—and the daughter of another popular big cat, Krishna. Also Read: 'Tiger man' Valmik Thapar took train to Ranthambore in his 20s on a whim. It changed his life Early life Born in 2014, Arrowhead was first spotted with her mother and siblings on 23 March the same year, while Krishna was relocating her cubs between zones two and four. Her father is believed to be Star Male, a dominant male tiger in the reserve. She was named Arrowhead due to a distinct arrow-shaped mark on her left cheek. 'She lived a full life. She had cubs, some memorable hunts, and towards the end, a life-threatening illness. She did it all like a queen—the Queen of Ranthambore,' a forest official from Ranthambore said. Final days Every other tourist that boarded the safari jeeps to tour Ranthambore would inevitably ask to see the famous Arrowhead. Even in her final days, when she had grown so weak that her bones started sticking out of her sagging flesh, she would drag herself near safari vehicles, allowing tourists to photograph and admire her at leisure. Her classic pose would be lying down on her side and staring right into the camera lens. On days one would catch her in action, she would walk towards onlookers like she would towards her prey, which was her way of teasing the tourists, leaving the audience guessing her next move. 'Her area of movement was around zone two, but towards her final days, her daughter Riddhi became the dominant tigress,' the official from the reserve said, adding that after being diagnosed with bone cancer, Arrowhead had limited her movement around Jogi Mahal, near zone three. But despite her deteriorating health, the reigning 'Queen of Ranthambore' showcased alpha characteristics even through her last few days. On 16 June, just three days before her death, Arrowhead successfully took down a crocodile. She jumped into the Padam Talab, grabbed a chunk of meat from the crocodile's neck and dragged it out. The videos of the hunt were widely circulated because of its symbolism. Machli, her grandmother, was known as a 'crocodile killer' in her time, and after her, the only two tigers to have killed a crocodile in Ranthambore are Riddhi—Arrowhead's daughter—and then Arrowhead herself. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Nauradehi to be cheetahs' new home in MP. It's preparing by expanding prey base, relocating villages
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First Post
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Ranthambore's fierce queen dies: The legacy of Arrowhead, the tigress who took on a crocodile in her final days
Arrowhead, the descendant of the famed tigress Machli of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, has died after a prolonged illness. The queen was battling bone cancer that left her frail, impacting her ability to prey. However, before taking her last breath, the big cat ambushed a crocodile, the epic hunt steeped in deep symbolism read more The queen is dead. Arrowhead, the famed tigress of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, took her last breath on Thursday (June 19), leaving behind a storied legacy. Also known as T-84, the big cat was captured taking down a crocodile just days before her death. Visuals of the kill spread widely online, standing out for their symbolism. As Ranthambore bids adieu to Arrowhead, we take a look at her legacy. Arrowhead reigns supreme Arrowhead was the granddaughter of Machli, or T-16, arguably the most photographed tigress in the world. Known for her courage, Machli was the Queen of Ranthambore. She was once the oldest living tiger in the world, who passed away at the age of 20 in 2016. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Born in 2014 to popular tigress T-19 or Krishna, Arrowhead came from an iconic tiger bloodline. Arrowhead's father was Star Male, also known as T-28, a dominant tiger in the Rajasthan's Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Arrowhead got her name due to a distinct arrow mark on her left cheek. Image Courtesy: fotokatha The tigress got her name due to a distinct arrow mark on her left cheek. Arrowhead grew up in the main wilderness of the reserve, along with her siblings Lightning and Pacman. Arrowhead reportedly established her territory in zones two, three, and four of the reserve. Zone three, the largest territory in Ranthambore, was ruled by her mother, Krishna, for five years before her daughter took over. A well-known tigress, tourists on safari jeeps visiting Ranthambore were eager to see Arrowhead. And the big cat lapped up all the attention. The final hunt The Queen of Ranthambore battled bone cancer for several months. During her last days, she was just a shadow of her former self, with her bones sticking out and sagging flesh. Arrowhead's last hunt was outstanding due to its symbolism. Her grandmother, Machli, was famous as the 'crocodile killer' at her time. Arrowhead lived up to the family legacy. Just days back, the tigress was captured ambushing a crocodile despite her frail health. In a video that went viral, she can be seen jumping into Padam Talab near Jogi Mahal in zone three, grabbing the crocodile's neck, dragging it out and taking it to the forest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The clips of the epic hunt went viral, serving as a reminder of her grandmother's skills and bravery. Days after the notable hunt, Arrowhead died on Thursday due to her prolonged illness. 'With a heavy heart, we share the heartbreaking news from Ranthambore. Tigress Arrowhead (T-84), the pride of our forest, daughter of Krishna and granddaughter of legendary Machli, has passed away,' Ranthambhore National Park's official Instagram account said in a heartfelt post. Arrowhead's death came just a few hours after her daughter, RBT 2507, or Kankati – a 23-month-old tigress, was moved to Mukundara Tiger Reserve. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wildlife photographer Sachin Rai, who saw her just two evenings before the tigress' death, told Indian Express, 'It was heartbreaking to see her struggle, attempting to rise and take a few feeble steps before collapsing again. Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task. Eventually, she reached a tree and lay beneath it. In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near, just a matter of a day or two.' He shared a video of the 'last walk' of Arrowhead near the Padam Talab. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'She lived a full life. She had cubs, some memorable hunts, and towards the end, a life-threatening illness. She did it all like a queen—the Queen of Ranthambore,' a forest official from the reserve told ThePrint. ALSO READ: International Tiger Day: How nature tourism helped conserve the big cats in India The notorious daughter Kankati, the young daughter of Arrowhead, was relocated to Mukundara Tiger Reserve on Thursday morning after she killed two people. She is believed to be behind the death of forest ranger, Devendra Chaudhary, on May 11 and a seven-year-old child at Ranthambore Fort on April 16. The attacks raised questions about live baiting that was offered to her ailing mother. Live baiting refers to offering a live prey animal to a predator. Since her birth, Kankati and her two siblings witnessed live bait provided to Arrowhead. According to experts, this repeated feeding to Arrowhead made Kankati and possibly her siblings lose their natural caution of humans, leading to the two fatal attacks. 'Wild tigers can be fed only as an emergency measure. If a tigress with cubs gets an injury and is unable to hunt, baiting can be tried to improve her condition but only once in two weeks and for not more than three months. You can not prolong this as tigers get familiar and fearless with humans,' veteran conservationist Valmik Thapa was quoted as saying by Indian Express. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Live baiting to attract tigers is banned. However, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) does not prohibit but says it is 'not advisable' when dealing with old or injured tigers in the wild. With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Final walk of the legend': As Tigress Arrowhead dies, Ranthambore National Park, admirers bid goodbye to queen of the jungle
Tourists and flocking to the Ranthambore National Park hoping for close encounters with its famed wildlife, for in the scorching summer heat, animals, including the big cats, move towards the streams for water. However, even amid that noice, Ranthambore is quieter now. Tigress T-84, famous as Arrowhead, died on June 19 following prolonged illness. The bone cancer she was diagnosed with finally caught up with her. For those familiar with the forest, Arrowhead wasn't just another tiger. Among the many in the park, T-84 had a towering presence, her territory, a legendary story, and now a legacy. Wildlife photographer Sachin Rai saw her just two evenings before she passed. She was by the banks of Padam Talab, struggling to move. 'She tried to get up, took a few steps, then collapsed near a tree,' Rai said in the caption of an Instagram Reel he posted posted, a video that captured Arrowhead, now just a shadow of what she was – frail and tired – walking in slow motion near the lake. 'I knew it was close to the end,' he wrote. Watch the video here: A post shared by Sachin Rai (@sachin_rai_photography) Rai's connection to her goes back years. He had photographed her as a cub, followed her through her rise as a mother and protector of her patch. Arrowhead didn't always have it easy – she lost some of her early litters, faced pressure from incoming males, and was eventually displaced from her own ground by her daughter, Riddhi. But she kept going. Even last year, when her health was already fading, she raised another litter. In a moving post, the official yet unverified Instagram page of the Ranthambore National Park said, 'She was the pride of our forest.' The post was a photo of Arrowhead, dead, and it mentioned that just hours before Arrowhead died, her daughter was relocated to the Mukundra reserve. A strange coincidence. Or maybe not. Here is the post: A post shared by Ranthambore National Park (@ranthambhorepark) Surya Sadasivan, senior public policy professional and a wildlife enthusiast, a regular at Ranthambore, told that she has seen Arrowhead from her sub adult days. 'I still remember the first time I saw Arrowhead as a young tigress in Ranthambore. There was something truly magical about her. She wasn't the first tiger I'd ever encountered, but she stayed with me in a way I didn't expect. She embodied the spirit of a true wild tigress – fierce, graceful, and resilient till the very end,' Sadasivan said. 'Even in her fragile final days, she gave us one last glimpse of her strength. Watching her take down a crocodile despite her condition was a powerful reminder of who she really was – the original queen of the jungle,' Sadasivan said, referring to a video that went viral on Instagram, shared on June 8. Watch the video here: Trigger warning: The content could be disturbing for some A post shared by Phillip Ross (@philliprossphotography) A video shared by wildlife photographer Jayanth Sharma two years ago showed Arrowhead in action, hunting a shot shell turtle. Watch the video here: A post shared by Jayanth Sharma (@jayanth_sharma) Arrowhead came from a remarkable bloodline. She was the daughter of Krishna, and granddaughter of Machli, both legends in their own right. But Arrowhead had something of her own. She was known for her independence, her defiance. She wasn't the most photographed, but those who did manage to see her never forgot it. Reactions to her death have been pouring in. Comments on social media range from poetic to simple: 'Rest well, Queen,' one wrote. Another user just said, 'Heartbroken.' 'I wish I'd had the chance to see her one last time, but I'll always carry her memory with me. Arrowhead was a legend. Her grace, her courage, and her legacy will live on in the forest—and in our hearts,' Sadasivan said. We can't measure what a wild animal means to a forest, or to the people who watch over it. But for Ranthambore, Arrowhead was more than a name on a chart. She was part of the story, from the early morning safaris to the quiet nights when only the forest could hear her. Now, there's just silence. But somewhere out there, her cubs still walk. And so, the story continues.
