Known to be the oldest living tigress in wild, Machli was named so by cinematographer Colin Patrick Stafford-Johnson, who went on to do five documentaries on her
India's legendary and the oldest living tigress in wild, Machli, succumbed to old age after her health reportedly deteriorated over past week and was given a ceremonial cremation on Thursday noon.
Around 400 people, most with teary eyes, bid an emotional farewell to the 'Queen of Ranthambore', whose last rites were carried out at Aama Ghati, Ranthambore at around 3pm. According to forest officials, the 19-year-old tigress was found dead on Friday around 9.50am on the fringe of the park close to a dense forested patch near a luxury resort that had become her territory for almost a week now.
Machli, who is remembered the most for not only fighting but also killing a 14- foot-long crocodile, has a postage stamp, several short films/documentaries on her name and even several facebook pages dedicated to her. In 2009, she was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT).
As per wildlife photographer Aditya Singh, Machli was named so by Colin Patrick Stafford-Johnson, cinematographer who went on to do five documentaries on her after he spotted what looked like an 'angel fish' on her cheek.
Hemraj Meena, a naturalist and guide at Ranthambore Tiger reserve for 22 years, who had been following Machli's life since 1997, shared that the last rites were carried out as per traditional customs. "Everyone at Ranthambore wanted her cremation to be like one we would carry out for our loved ones. For us guides and even forest department she was like a senior member of our family and hence an extremely emotional moment," he said.
Her cremation was attended by not only field guides and naturalists from Ranthambore tiger reserve but also several forest officials as well as district officials including the Collector.
Forest officials from Ranthambore said that the post-mortem report said the left foot and the portion below the tail was infested with maggots. "In the past two days her movement had become extremely limited and she was showing signs that she had given up and was not even eating," said the official.
"She had been suffering due to old age for too long and one of the reason was that there were lot of interventions including feeding her by putting baits to ensure that she does not starve to death as she could not hunt after she had lost all her canines," said a wildlife activist adding that she was extremely popular globally amongst tourists as well as wildlife photographers.
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