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Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
The final walk of Ranthambore's iconic tigress Arrowhead captured on camera
One of Ranthambore's most celebrated big cats, tigress Arrowhead (T-84), passed away at the age of 14 on Thursday, said officials. According to the details, tigress Arrowhead's death took place hours after her daughter was relocated to another tiger reserve, which marked an emotional end to a storied legacy in Indian wildlife history, reported NDTV. However, noted photographer Sachin Rai paid tribute with a poignant video capturing her final moments. He had closely followed her life since she was a cub. Rai took to Instagram and wrote an emotional post, describing him watching her struggle to walk near Padam Talab on 17 June. He wrote that he saw tigress Arrowhead taking a few weak steps before collapsing under a tree, showing her end was near. "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." Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) was born to tigress Krishna (T-19) and is the granddaughter of the legendary Machhli (T-16). She was part of a famed tiger bloodline. Tigress Arrowhead was suffering from advanced bone cancer and had been under observation for weeks. Her passing symbolizes the end of an era for Ranthambore, and with her death, the lineage also passed away.
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First Post
2 days 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
NDTV
6 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Pics: Ranthambore Tigress Takes Down Crocodile In Rare Jungle Encounter
A tigress at Rajasthan's Ranthambore Tiger Reserve was captured on camera taking down a crocodile in a rare and intense jungle standoff. The incident occurred in Zone 3 near Jogimahal, in the Padam Talab Latab area, when tigress T-84, known as 'Arrowhead', ambushed a crocodile emerging from the water. Eyewitnesses say Arrowhead had been lying silently near the water's edge before springing into action. The attack turned into a fierce one-minute struggle, but the crocodile ultimately succumbed to her powerful bite. Photos obtained by NDTV show the dramatic moments. Arrowhead leapt into the water, taking a chunk of meat out of the crocodile's neck, and finally dragging the lifeless reptile into the forest. A video clip captures the sheer strength of the tigress as she hauls the crocodile's body away from the lake. What makes this hunt even more remarkable is Arrowhead's lineage. She is the granddaughter of the legendary tigress T-16, famously known as 'Machhli' - a global wildlife icon who had also earned the nickname 'Crocodile Killer' for similar daring hunts. Arrowhead's daughter, 'Riddhi', has also followed in the family's fearless footsteps. She, too, has hunted a crocodile, and, in another incident, even preyed on a turtle. So far, there have been three documented cases of tigers hunting crocodiles in Ranthambore, and all three were by tigresses from Machhli's bloodline. According to forest officials, Arrowhead is about 16 years old and currently battling a bone tumour. About Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve ranks among India's most celebrated wildlife parks. Spread across nearly 1,334 square km, the area once served as the hunting grounds for the Jaipur royal family. Authorities declared it a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and included it in Project Tiger in 1973. The reserve draws visitors with its dense forests, scenic lakes, and the majestic Ranthambore Fort perched on a hill inside the park. The main spotlight is its tigers, often seen in broad daylight, which is rare in most tiger habitats. The park actively contributes to India's tiger conservation efforts and shelters several iconic big cats. Ranthambore also hosts leopards, sloth bears, wild boars, hyenas, crocodiles, and over 300 species of birds.
