19 year old Machhli of Ranthambore, the world's most photographed tigress died on Thursday
India's most famous tiger and perhaps the most photographed big cat in the world, Machhli died on Thursday, days after the 19 year old tigress stopped eating.
Fondly called the 'Queen of Ranthambore', Machli had been the star attraction of Ranthambore National Park for years because of her seemingly calm nature and proclivity for posing for photographs for tourists. Over the years she had several documentaries filmed on her, a postage stamp released in her honor, and recently even a dedicated Facebook page put up about her.
Machhli took her name from fish like markings on the side of her face and was also known as the 'lady of the lake' because of her fondness for water bodies. One of her battles with a 14 foot crocodile in the bed of a lake was famously captured on film.
Many of Ranthambore's tigers carry Machhli's bloodline. Officials at the national park estimate that about half of the tigers in Ranthambore are related to Macchli. Over the years she is supposed to have mothered over 11 cubs.
Royal Bengal Tigers usually have a lifespan of only 15 years, but Macchli continued to thrive even as she aged. It was only after she lost sight in one of her eyes and nearly all of her teeth that she became incapable of hunting and feeding herself. In the last few weeks she had to be fed by the staff at the national park.