Indian wildlife photographer Sachin Rai still remembers tigress "Arrowhead" pouncing on a crocodile and tearing away its leathery flesh with her teeth. Mr Rai had been photographing the iconic tigress in western Rajasthan state's Ranthambore national park since she was a cub. Last week, Arrowhead, also known as T-84, died at the age of 11 near a stretch of lakes in the scenic park, the very territory she had gloriously ruled over in her prime. Her death, caused by an illness, was mourned by hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and tour guides who had flocked to the park to get a glimpse of her. Arrowhead's legendary status comes partly from her lineage; she is the daughter of Krishna and granddaughter of Machli - majestic tigresses who, once upon a time, dominated vast home ranges in Ranthambore with ferocity. They were also skilled crocodile-killers, known to incapacitate the massive creatures by crushing their skulls in their powerful jaws. Mr Rai says that Arrowhead - named such by another wildlife photographer after the distinct arrow-shaped stripes on her cheek - took to killing crocodiles after her health began failing her. "But even though she was weak and frail, the crocodiles were no match for her," Mr Rai says. Her kills earned her the nickname "crocodile-hunter" by her fans, he adds. In fact, she killed a crocodile just days before her death. Though graceful and fierce, Arrowhead had a difficult life, Mr Rai says. She was chased out of her territory by her own daughter, Riddhi, and had to mate multiple times in order to find a place she could call home. (A male tiger shares his territory with his mate, offering her a space to bring up their cubs.) Arrowhead gave birth to four litters in her lifetime, but not all of her children survived. She grew weak after developing a tumour and park official's would have to bring her food when she couldn't hunt for days. However, this was stopped after some of her cubs attacked and killed people. Mr Rai, who was around when Arrowhead was nearing her end, says that it was heart-breaking to see a powerful, majestic creature become so weak and powerless. "I saw her struggling to walk. Every step seemed like an effort and she kept falling down," he says. Interestingly, Arrowhead ventured into her daughter Riddhi's territory - which was once her own - in her last days. "Riddhi didn't put up a fight. She just gave her mother space to lie down and rest," Mr Rai says, tearing up. Additional reporting by Antriksha Pathania Follow BBC News India onInstagram,YouTube,TwitterandFacebook.
Remembering India's iconic crocodile-hunting tigress
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"Tribute to Arrowhead: The Legendary Crocodile-Hunting Tigress of Ranthambore"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The passing of the iconic tigress known as Arrowhead, or T-84, has left a profound impact on wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike. Arrowhead, who ruled her territory in Ranthambore National Park in western Rajasthan, died at the age of 11 due to an illness. Her legacy is significant, not only because of her prowess as a crocodile hunter but also due to her prestigious lineage. She was the daughter of the famed tigress Krishna and the granddaughter of Machli, both of whom were renowned for their dominance in the park and their extraordinary ability to hunt crocodiles. Sachin Rai, a wildlife photographer who documented Arrowhead since her cub days, recalls her fierce nature and remarkable skills, including her ability to kill crocodiles even as her health deteriorated. Despite her frail condition, she maintained her reputation as a formidable predator, earning her the nickname 'crocodile-hunter' from her admirers. Just days before her death, she was still capable of taking down a crocodile, showcasing her enduring strength and tenacity.
Arrowhead's life, however, was not without struggles. She faced challenges such as being displaced from her territory by her daughter, Riddhi, and the harsh realities of wildlife survival, including the loss of some of her cubs. As she grew weaker from a tumor, park officials attempted to assist her by providing food when she could no longer hunt. Tragically, this support was curtailed after some of her cubs were involved in human attacks. Mr. Rai poignantly recounts witnessing Arrowhead's decline, noting the heartbreaking sight of her struggle to walk. In her final days, she returned to her former territory, where Riddhi allowed her mother to rest peacefully, a poignant gesture reflecting the complex dynamics of tiger family relationships. Arrowhead's death marks the end of an era in Ranthambore, illustrating the intertwined lives of wildlife and the emotional bonds they forge with those who observe them.
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