Machli: The camera-friendly Ranthambore queen is no more

One of the world’s oldest and most photographed tigresses has died in a wildlife park in India, grabbing headlines and an outpouring of commentary on social media from wildlife enthusiasts and animal lovers. Over the years she is supposed to have mothered over 11 cubs.

Machli’s name – sometimes spelled Machhli or Machali – came from the Hindu word for fish because of a fish-shaped mark on her face.

Machli was found starving and lying on her side near the park’s border in northern Rajasthan state. Her survival till the age of 19 is remarkable considering the average life span of a tiger is between 10-15 years in the wild.

We tried to feed her meat but she refused.

“All guides and forest staff want a proper cremation for her just like we would do for any other family member”, Hemraj Meena, guide and naturalist at Ranthambore was quoted saying to DNA.

India’s “Tiger Queen”- the legendary Machli (T-16) from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve – is no more.

Also known as “Queen of the Lake”, Machli was finding it hard to hunt for food and often foresters had to tie a bait as feed.

Being the star attraction of Ranthambore, Machali became world famous for her encounter with 14-ft-long mugger crocodile.

But such battles took their toll, injuring Machali’s teeth and compromising her ability to hunt. A team of veterinary doctors who monitored her condition said she died Thursday of natural causes linked to her age.

“Tiger behaviour is evolving and it was best reflected in the case of Machli”. Her fame resulted in a postal stamp in her name, a dedicated Facebook page and has been instrumental in the making of many documentaries and short wild life films. “She is very, very old now”.

Some 2,226 tigers roam India’s reserves, accounting for more than half of the world’s tiger population, according to the last count in 2014.