The Queen Mother of the tiger dynasty is now in her sunset days. It may be a painful fact to accept but Machli, the tigress that reigned supreme in the woods of Ranthambhore for over a decade and produced numerous litter, is now a toothless tigress.
Not that Machli, now 17 years old, has lost all her grace. The animal, though without most of her canines, still remains a magnificent creature, with her attractive fur and elegant looks intact. Age has not withered her. Perhaps only when she moves, does the infirmity show.
Machli is a celebrated tigress — she was the subject of “Tiger Queen” a 50- minute film by ace cameraman Nalla Muthu which was shown in National Geography and Animal Planet channels a few years back. Continuing with the tiger dynasty trail, Nalla Muthu followed Machli's daughter Bhagani (T-18) to the Sariska Tiger Reserve where she was shifted to from the Ranthambhore National Park in July 2008 as part of a project to revive the extinct tiger population there. Nalla Muthu's encounters with Bhagani have led to the making of the impressive wildlife film, Tiger Dynasty.
Tiger Queen presented Machli as the “most dominant carnivore of Ranthambhore” during her heyday. As Machli had displaced her mother to be the reigning queen of the woods, her daughter, a doughty female with the code name T-17, did the same to Machli too some years back. Now every animal in the forest is seemingly doing the same to a toothless Machli.
Rajasthan Minister for Environment and Forests Bina Kak, who was in the Ranthambhore National Park recently, watched her, talked to her (that is what the Minister told The Hindu!!!) and clicked her pictures. That surely gave her some insights into the lives of tigers in the wild when they are aged.
“All her canines are gone. She has difficulty in chewing. Now she survives on the baits [domestic animals tied to a tree or post] provided on a regular basis by the staff of the Forest Department,” Ms. Kak told The Hindu on her return.
“At times, even the bait kept for her is snatched away by other tigers — like T-24 and T-25. Machli is old. She needs protection now,” Ms. Kak, observed. This may be defying the law of the jungle in which only the fittest survive.
“A dedicated team is looking after her in Ranthambhore. There is a viewpoint in conservation circles that the animal should be allowed to die a natural death. But with Machli, with a tigress they all knew so intimately, they say, they cannot do that,” Ms. Kak said.
Yet, in her difficult days also, Machli's survival instincts are helping her.
“She is a clever female. Once she kills the calf that is tied as bait, she immediately drags it across a stream and hides it on the other side of the bank. This way the other animals would not follow the scent and snatch the prey from her,” Ms. Kak explained.
“I saw it at least three times. I am sure she is doing it purposely to evade the rest of the predators and scavengers,” Ms. Kak asserted.
Keywords: Machli Tiger, Queen of Yore, Ranthambhore forest, Tiger Queen, Forest Department
Don't forget that we human also belong to nature. When a human is old and have no teeth etc. we help him or her. Why not helping Machli? I think is very good that they are helping Machli now. They have earned a lot of money becuase of her.So it is her money to, so she deserve it to be helped.Thank you very much for helping her. I would have done the same.
If i were thinking with a logical mind, i would be inclined to agree with the view that nature should take it's course. By interfering with nature, we are only inviting trouble. The difference between the Great Tigress and the rest of the tiger population in the National Park is that she was and perhaps, still is, the National Park's ticket to publicity, which is why, we humans would consider her an asset even in her golden years. To me, she is still beautiful and is the source of so much affection that i am biased and would want for us to provide for her.
When ever govt announces some packages/funds to protect and maintains tigers and their sanctuaries I was in the impression that we humans (so called BPL families) can not get decent life in India why the heck govt is doing for them? But after some research I understood that the govt is in fact doing a wonderful job. By protecting tigers and their habitats we are in fact protecting the whole eco system. The green forests and food web/chain are being maintained intact which is having good effects in preserving the nature. For those who are still confused check what a food web or food chain is. Thanks
This article is really very interesting, The tigress Machli's fate is really sad. The age has acted swiftly and the tiger queen has now become toothless and powerless. Indeed I think this happens with every human being also, we also get old and loose our teeth and also loose our power. Old age is nature's gift to everybody.
We humans have a feeling that we are above all other living and non
living things, but the truth is that we are also a mere spectator at the
mercy of our Mother nature. Even after our technological advancement ,
we are nothing in front of natures fury like Tsunamis, Earthquakes,
Volcanoes, Floods and forest fires are a few of the many. Let the
Tigress lead her own life, who are we to give her a natural death. By don't interfering in the Machilis life itself will be a big gift to her.
Now social engineering has entered the animal domain. It is ridiculous and incorrect to change the course of nature in the wild. This tiger is not in a zoo, she is in the wild. Let the nature take its course. Don't make Ranathombore forest a zoo.
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