Machli goes blind in one eye, shifts base to Ranthambore’s periphery

JAIPUR: Causing widespread concern among wildlife enthusiasts, Ranthambore’s oldest and the world’s most photographed tigress Machli is showing signs of deteriorating health. Ranthambore National Park authorities suspect that she may have gone blind in one eye after a suspected flight with another tiger recently. She has also left her territory and has shifted to Amba Ghati, supposedly due to fear of other majestic cats. The signs of weakness are also becoming obvious.

Sources said that Machli who is now over 17 years old, at least 3-4 years more than the average life of a tiger, is not entering the park’s core area for the past few months. “She has left her territory and is currently seen in Amba Ghati on the park’s periphery. Amba Ghati has been known for providing shelter to old tigers and tigresses in the past too,” said an officer.

There have been reports of Machli’s fight with T-72, also known as Sultan. “Her eyes are swollen and reddish. We suspect that she has gone blind in one eye. There are minor injury marks on one of her legs too,” said the officer.

The officer added that they are yet to confirm if the fight actually took place, the tigress might have been attacked by Sultan after she killed her prey, a deer recently. However, when she was eating it, she might have been attacked by T-72.

“She is definitely in the last stages of her life. She is growing weak by each passing day,” said the officer. Machli has been the subject of several documentaries and short films. Many books have been written on her and she even received the TOFT Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to conservation and the wider Rajasthan economy. It was observed by TOFT that for 10 years till 2012, $10 million per annum were added to the local economy of Ranthambhore due to Machli. A commemorative postal cover on her was issued last September, adding to the legend of the tigress.

Machli delivered four times. In all, she gave birth to nine cubs between 2000 and 2006 — four males and five females. Of them, six including T-1 and T-18 were translocated to Sariska in 2008-09 (re-coded ST-2 and ST-3) and are still alive.

More than half of the tiger population of Rajasthan's two tiger reserves, Ranthambhore and Sariska are Machli's lineage. Two female cubs of Machli were introduced to re-populate Sariska. Her legendary fight with a 14-feet-long crocodile created history, being the first time that such an encounter was recorded.