3-year-old tigress Arrowhead ousts her mother, is Ranthambore’s new queen

Three-year old tigress Arrowhead now rules the coveted lake area in Ranthambore National Park after ousting her mother T-19 (also known as Jhalra Female) from the

Three-year old tigress Arrowhead now rules the coveted lake area in Ranthambore National Park after ousting her mother T-19 (also known as Jhalra Female) from the territory.

Arrowhead is the grandchild of the Machli (pictured), probably the most celebrated tigress Ranthambore has ever had and which ruled over the area roughly from 2000-2008. The 1997-born Machli died of old age in August this year. (HT)

“Since past 3-4 months we have been spotting Arrowhead in the Zone 3 (area around the lakes) of the park. T-19 has been pushed to a different area by Arrowhead,” Sudarshan Sharma, divisional forest officer told HT.

Tigers lead largely solitary lives. They also establish and maintain territories but have much wider home ranges within which they roam and hunt.

The 2006 born T-19 had mated with T-28 (Star Male) some three years ago and had given birth to three cubs, one of which is Arrowhead. The elusive and shy T-19 had mothered a litter of three earlier as well.

Before Arrowhead taking over the lake area, T-19 had been ruling over the largest territory in Ranthambore for the past 4-5 years. “It’s all about power. The one who is stronger will rule. Arrowhead is in the prime of her life and is likely to rule for the next 6-7 years,” says Sharma.

He also said that on an average, a tiger reins for 3-4 years, until a more powerful rival wrests the territory.

Arrowhead is the grandchild of the Machli, probably the most celebrated tigress Ranthambore has ever had and which ruled over the area roughly from 2000-2008. The 1997-born Machli died of old age in August this year.

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

Machli had given birth to T-17, T-18, and T-19 in 2006. T-17 had taken over the lake area from Machli while T-18 established a territory in the Nalghati - Phoota Banda - Phoota Kot area. T-19 was left only with the Mandoop plateau, which during the summers has very few permanent waterholes and a low prey density. But when T-18 was relocated to Sariska, T-19 took over her territory.

Machli had also famously fought with T-28 in April 2009 for territory. T-28 had emerged the winner in the clash and Machli had retreated from the area.