T-16
Machali
T-16 — The Legend Tigress of Ranthambore
| Tiger Code | T-16 |
|---|---|
| First Seen | 1996 |
| Gender | Female |
| Identification Sign | Fish mark on her face |
| Age | – |
| Zone | Zone 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Status | Dead |
Lady of the Lake
Once the pride of Ranthambore, Machli (T-16) alias Lady of the Lake, was the royal tigress who passed away on 18th August 2016. Labeled as the most photographed tigress in the world, Machli was not only beautiful but also a powerful entity who had a strong hold over her territory which included the Ranthambhore's palace, lakes, and forts of Ranthambore.
With domes and chattris as a shelter, and lakes under her control, one can easily figure out Machli's dominance over Ranthambore. This 350 square mile area of Machli's territory was the largest area of the park, and also the most beautiful one.
What Made Machali T-16 Stand Out?
Amongst the 62 tigers of Ranthambore, what made Machli so special was her comfort level with the humans, and how she held lensmen in awe of her grace. She was smart too. At times, she used to take the advantage of the tourist's vehicles to stalk and hunt. Her genes have spread far and wide across the area.
Machli, literal meaning fish, was named for the fish-shaped mark on the left ear of her face. Since birth during the monsoon months of 1997, Machli had been a dominating cub. At the age of two, this ferocious tigress started hunting on her own.
Powerful, Dominating and Ferocious
Despite being a female tigress, she always had a dominating nature and a powerful personality that at times used to overpower even the male tigers. Her ferocity was something that she was born with. One of these tales was her fight with the 14-foot long crocodile that even created history. It has been described as a historic encounter by the spectators.
Death of Machali, the Queen of Ranthambore
However, around five years before her death, age started taking a toll on Machli and she started losing territory gradually. She even lost her teeth too by the time of her death. She was cremated according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority Protocols (NTCA). The legend of Machali will continue to live on.
Interesting Facts About Tigress Machali
Tigress Queen of Ranthambore, Lady of the Lakes and Crocodile Killer — titles she received during her life.
Between 1998 and 2009, the extraordinary popularity of Machli helped the Indian government earn nearly US$100 million.
She won the Lifetime Achievement Award due to her contribution to conservation and tourist attraction.
The Indian Government issued a commemorative postal cover and stamp to honor Machli.
Machli passed away at the age of 20, making her the world's oldest-surviving tigress in the wild.
A film on Machali, The World's Most Famous Tiger, won the National Award at the 66th National Film Awards.
