Legendary Ranthambore tigress ‘Machhli’ died

New Delhi, Aug 18: Legendary Ranthambore tigress ‘Machhli’ died on Thursday. She was 19 years old. Machhli had not eaten for five days and is believed to have died of age-related issues.

Also referred to as T 16 , Machhli was probably the world’s most photographed tigress. She was named Machhli because of the marks on her face that resemble a fish. She had contributed more than $10 million a year to the economy of Ranthambore over the last 10 years.

Her presence in the Ranthambhore National Park had been the most significant attraction for tourists visiting park,from far and near.

“I first saw her in 1998 when she was roaming about the Jhalra area with her mother – the original Lady of the Lake – a title Machhli inherited after occupying the Rajbagh, Tambakhan, Padam talab and Mallik talab – an area that she never really left since then,” Rajpal Singh of the National Tiger Conservation Authority told TOI yesterday.