Machli the Tiger Matriarch of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Dies aged 20

In June 2003, with Ranthambore in the middle of a drought, a crocodile approached a lake in her territory. Machli first escorted her cubs to safety and returned to fight the 14-foot-long crocodile, emerging victorious after an hour-and-a-half. It earned her a new moniker, “crocodile killer”. Forest officials carried her remains, draped in a stark white sheet, with roses and marigolds resting on it, to the hill. “It took a few hundred kgs of wood and about 200 dung-cakes to cremate her, as 70 constables and other officials stood saluting her,”

Source



India's most famous Tiger "Machli" died aged 20 yesterday(Bengal Tigers die between ages 10-15). She was called Machli(fish) due to the markings in her forehead. Machli had 11 cubs , and their offspring basically make up 60% of tiger population in the reserve. Some of the Tigers also had to be relocated to other Tiger reserves due to over crowding. I used to watch several documentaries of her over the years, its disheartening to know she is gone.

Oh wow. Makes out little ceremony for our cat look pale in comparison.

What a beautiful animal. No wonder she was the most photographed.

At 20, she was like the real wizened old woman. At least, we are celebrating a good long life lived and not a tragic ending through poaching. Very few of her compatriots can say the same.

a reply to: ketsuko

www.thehindu.com...

Tiger populations have been going up in the past few years, thanks to conservation methods by several countries and "shoot at sight" policy against poachers. The biggest problem is the Chinese market for tiger related products which leads to poaching. Chinese have so far refused to do anything credible to destroy this market...

originally posted by: maddy21
a reply to: ketsuko

www.thehindu.com...

Tiger populations have been going up in the past few years, thanks to conservation methods by several countries and "shoot at sight" policy against poachers. The biggest problem is the Chinese market for tiger related products which leads to poaching. Chinese have so far refused to do anything credible to destroy this market...

Look at China and tell me the Chinese care about the environment in any meaningful sense.