The sprawling forests of Ranthambore fell silent this past week as the queen of the lakes, Arrowhead (T-84), took her final bow, one of the most celebrated residents, also known as the Lady of the lake. This beautiful tigress succumbed to bone cancer and a brain tumor at the age of 11. Her passing on June 19 marked the end of an era in the wildlife legacy.
On the evening of June 17, renowned wildlife photographer Sachin Rai, who had followed this majestic creature’s life closely since she was a cub, captured what he believed to be Arrowhead’s final walk along the banks of Padam Talab. A video shared on Instagram showcased this formidable tigress taking a few labored steps before finally collapsing under a tree.
In his Instagram caption, Sachin Rai wrote, “Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task… In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near. This footage deeply resonated with many viewers online, prompting flooding emotions from wildlife and nature lovers alike.
Royal blood and fearless spirit
This tigress was born in 2014 and comes from a majestic lineage. Machli, once hailed as the “queen of Ranthambore”, who famously battled and killed a crocodile in 2003, a feat her granddaughter would echo.
Arrowhead carried forward her grandmother's legacy, earning her acclaim for multiple daring hunts.
For months, she battled with illness; finally, it impaired her hunting instincts. Forest officials noted her gradual decline; she ceased eating, and her movements grew sluggish. In a twisted turn of events, Arrowhead passed away just a few hours after her daughter, Kankati, was relocated to Mukundra Hills, following incidents where cubs posed risks to local communities.
Remembering the great jungle queen, Arrowhead
Arrowhead wasn’t just a tigress; she was a symbol, a testament to nature’s raw elegance and the enduring bond between humanity and wildlife. As a senior guide observed, “She was a symbol of Ranthambore’s wild soul; she was majestic, fearless, and unforgettable.”
While the forest mourns her presence, Arrowhead’s legacy lives on in the cubs she nurtured, the stories she inspired, and the soul of Ranthambore itself. Her final walk may have ended, but her spirit continues to roam those ancient woods.
On the evening of June 17, renowned wildlife photographer Sachin Rai, who had followed this majestic creature’s life closely since she was a cub, captured what he believed to be Arrowhead’s final walk along the banks of Padam Talab. A video shared on Instagram showcased this formidable tigress taking a few labored steps before finally collapsing under a tree.
In his Instagram caption, Sachin Rai wrote, “Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task… In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near. This footage deeply resonated with many viewers online, prompting flooding emotions from wildlife and nature lovers alike.
Royal blood and fearless spirit
This tigress was born in 2014 and comes from a majestic lineage. Machli, once hailed as the “queen of Ranthambore”, who famously battled and killed a crocodile in 2003, a feat her granddaughter would echo.
Arrowhead carried forward her grandmother's legacy, earning her acclaim for multiple daring hunts.
For months, she battled with illness; finally, it impaired her hunting instincts. Forest officials noted her gradual decline; she ceased eating, and her movements grew sluggish. In a twisted turn of events, Arrowhead passed away just a few hours after her daughter, Kankati, was relocated to Mukundra Hills, following incidents where cubs posed risks to local communities.
Remembering the great jungle queen, Arrowhead
Arrowhead wasn’t just a tigress; she was a symbol, a testament to nature’s raw elegance and the enduring bond between humanity and wildlife. As a senior guide observed, “She was a symbol of Ranthambore’s wild soul; she was majestic, fearless, and unforgettable.”
https://www.instagram.com/sachin_rai_photography/reel/DLE32CTxbvC/ https://www.instagram.com/sachin_rai_photography/reel/DLE32CTxbvC/
While the forest mourns her presence, Arrowhead’s legacy lives on in the cubs she nurtured, the stories she inspired, and the soul of Ranthambore itself. Her final walk may have ended, but her spirit continues to roam those ancient woods.
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