I have always loved wildlife and nothing fascinates me more than a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. For in a wildlife sanctuary, you get to see nature at its best and worst.
The tigers rule the jungles of India, but there was a tigress that ruled them all - Machli, The Tiger Queen.
As the longest living tigress, Machli dominated the majestic jungles of Ranthambore with ferociousness and class. She is mother to an entire generation of tigers and has brought glory to the whole jungle.
A subject of many documentaries, Machli got her name from fish like patterns on her face. She started ruling the jungle from a very early age.
Her moment of glory was when she was recorded hunting crocodiles, an art she taught to her little cubs as well. Till date, Ranthambore remains one of the few jungles where tigers hunt crocodiles.
As the word spread, tourists from around the world flocked to see the Tiger Queen for real.
Time takes a toll on everyone and so it did on Machli too. Her last years were painful and she was at the mercy of the food that was served to her. A lifetime of hunting was reduced to scavenging.
As Machli left this world, all that remained was the image of her, perched atop the forts of Ranthambore, looking over her Kingdom as she let out a loud growl to stamp her authority. A fitting memory of this great tigress with a remarkable life!
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