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.
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 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.
{{/usCountry}}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.
{{/usCountry}}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.