In pics: Machli, India’s oldest surviving tigress, dies at 19

Legendary tigress Machli, also known as the Queen of Ranthambore, finally succumbed to old age on Friday morning ending her love affair with Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

Legendary tigress Machli, also known as the Queen of Ranthambore, finally succumbed to old age on Friday morning ending her love affair with Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

Machali was the longest-surviving tigress in the park at the age of 19. (Photo: Anjan Lal/Save the Tiger)

The 19-year-old tigress, one of the most photographed in the world, was reported dead around 9.50 am on the fringe of the park, close to a densely forested patch near a luxury resort that became her last territory.

Machli even had a dedicated team that used to keep a track of her movements. (Photo: Machli’s facebook page)

Machli was also known as the‘ Lady of the Lake ’, as she was typically found along the water territory of Ranthambore. (Photo: Machli’s facebook page)

Machli is famous for her hunting skill and strength. A video of her killing a 14-foot-long mugger crocodile had gone viral. Due the crucial fight she lost a couple of canine teeth.

She had been refusing food and water for some time. She was under observation at Ama Ghati, in the fringe area of the reserve, and surrounded by a bevy of her admirers and forest officials when she died.

The most-clicked tigress featured in documentaries and a postal stamps as well. (Photo: Machli’s facebook page)

Machli, with a fish-shaped mark on her face, had been lying half conscious near Amaghati area of the park in Sawai Madhopur for the past five days. (Photo: Machli’s facebook page)

Her body has been taken to the Ama Ghati check post for the post mortem, after which it will be cremated. The cremation is to avoid the body parts from being harvested, field director of Ranthambore, Y.K Sahu told IANS.