Remembering India’s iconic crocodile-hunting tigress

The Indian photographer of the Sachin Rai fauna always remembers Tigress’s “arrow head” on a crocodile and tearing her tough flesh with her teeth.

Mr. Rai had photographed the emblematic tigress of Ranthambore National Park in the western state of Rajasthan since she was a cub.

Last week, Arrowhead, also known as T-84, died at the age of 11 near a lake section in the picturesque park, the very territory that it had gloriously governed at its peak.

Her death, caused by an illness, was overwhelmed by hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and tourist guides who had flocked to the park to have an overview of her.

Arrowhead’s legendary status comes from its lineage; She is the daughter of Krishna and Machli’s granddaughter – Majestic Tigresses who, once, dominated large domestic chains in Ranthambore with ferocity.

They were also qualified crocodile killers, known to impact massive creatures by crushing their skulls in their powerful jaws.

Mr. Rai says that Arrowhead – named such by another fauna photographer after distinct scratches in the shape of an arrow on his cheek – launched himself to kill crocodiles after his health began to fail it.

“But even if she was weak and fragile, the crocodiles did not correspond to her,” said Rai.

His victims earned him the nickname “Crocodile-Hunter” by his fans, he adds. In fact, she killed a crocodile just days before her death.

Although graceful and fierce, Arrowhead had a difficult life, said Mr. Rai. She was driven out of her territory by her own daughter, Riddhi, and had to mate several times to find a place she could call at home. (A male tiger shares his territory with his companion, offering him a space to raise their young.)

Arrowhead gave birth to four worn in his life, but all his children did not survive.

She weakened after developing a tumor and the park managers should bring her food when she could not hunt for days. However, this was arrested after some of his cubs attacked and killed people.

Mr. Rai, who was there when Arrowhead approached his end, said he was heartbreaking to see a powerful and majestic creature become so weak and helpless.

“I saw her having trouble walking. Each step seemed to be an effort and she continued to fall,” he said.

Interestingly, Arrowhead has ventured into the territory of his daughter Riddhi – which was once hers – in his last days.

“Riddhi did not fight. She just gave her mother the space to lie down and rest,” said Mr. Rai, tearing.