Machali (tigress)
{{Short description|Tiger from India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Machali
| image = Machli (tigress)2.jpg
| caption = Machali in Ranthambore National Park
| othername = T-16
| species = Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
| gender = Female
| birth_date = 1997 {{Circa}}{{cite journal|author=Doubleday, K.F.|year=2017|title=Nonlinear liminality: Human-animal relations on preserving the world's most famous tigress|journal=Geoforum|volume=81|issue=3|pages=32–44|doi=10.1016/j.geoforum.2017.02.005}}
| birth_place = Sawai Madhopur, India
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2016|8|18|19}}
| death_place = Sawai Madhopur, India
| known = India's most famous tigress; considered to have been the most photographed tigress in the world
| title = {{ubl|Queen Mother of Tigers|Tigress Queen of Ranthambore|The Lady of the Lakes|Crocodile Killer}}
| owner = Ranthambore National Park
| parents = Machali I
| children = 11 (7 daughters and 4 sons)
| appearance = See In the media
| namedafter = Machali I
}}
Machali (Hindi for 'fish'; code name: T-16),{{cite web | url=http://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/ranthambore-machali.html | title=Tigress Queen of Ranthambore- The Machli | publisher=Ranthambore National Park | access-date=11 August 2015}} also known as Machli or Machhli, was a Bengal tigress who lived in Ranthambore National Park in India. She was born in the spring of 1996, and died on 18 August 2016.
Machali played a key role in the regeneration of the tiger population in the park in the early 2000s, and was celebrated with titles such as Queen Mother of Tigers, Tigress Queen of Ranthambore, Lady of the Lakes, and Crocodile Killer. She was considered India's most famous tigress and, before her death, the oldest living in the wild.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/18/indias-beloved-tiger-machli-dies-sparking-outpouring-of-grief/|title=India's beloved 'Queen mother' tiger Machli dies sparking outpouring of grief|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=18 August 2016|access-date=20 August 2016|agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/18/india-tiger-queen-mother-machali-dies-crocodile-wrestling|title=India mourns crocodile-wrestling 'Queen mother' of tigers|last=Safi|first=Michael|date=18 August 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=20 August 2016}}
India earned about US$10{{nbsp}}million per year due to tourists attracted to Machali. She won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" of Travel Operators For Tigers due to her contribution to conservation and as a tourist attraction that earned significant income for India.
Life
Machali was born in the spring of 1997, and was the dominant cub in a litter of three females. She inherited her name from her mother, Machali I, who was also named the Hindi word for 'fish' due to a fish-shaped mark on her face. In her first two years, she started hunting on her own and took over a part of her mother's territory.
Tigresses generally have two or three litters, Over seven years, from 1999 to 2006, Machali had five litters comprising eleven cubs – seven daughters and four sons.{{cite web | url=https://www.tigernation.org/tigers/3 | title=Machli – Life stories | publisher=Tigernation | access-date=13 August 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/180816/worlds-most-photographed-tiger-machli-dies-at-19-in-ranthambore.html|title=World's most photographed tiger 'Machli' dies at 19 in Ranthambore|date=18 August 2016|access-date=20 August 2016}} Machali's offspring increased the tiger population in the park significantly – from 15 tigers in 2004, to 50 tigers in 2014. Eventually, more than half of the tigers in the park were of her lineage. In 2008, two of her female cubs were relocated to Sariska Tiger Reserve and successfully boosted the tiger population in that park as well.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tiger-queen-hale-and-hearty-spotted-after-a-month/article5661336.ece|title='Tiger Queen' hale and hearty, spotted after a month|date=6 February 2014|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=20 August 2016}}
In early 2014, Machali disappeared from her usual area, sparking a search by over 200 park staff. She was sighted after about a month, and appeared to be in good health. She had survived in dense forest by hunting her own prey, despite having been fed by park staff prior to her disappearance.{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Ranthambores-missing-tigress-Machli-found-after-26-days/articleshow/29875506.cms|title=Ranthambore's missing tigress Machli found after 26 days – Times of India|website=The Times of India |date=5 February 2014 |access-date=20 August 2016}}
She was known for her hunting skill and strength, in particular in an incident in 2003 when she fought with and killed a {{convert|14|ft|m|adj=mid|-long|order=flip}} mugger crocodile.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rajasthan-to-immortalise-world-s-most-photographed-tigress-1996299|title=Rajasthan to immortalise world's most photographed tigress|date=18 June 2014|work=Daily News and Analysis|access-date=12 August 2015}} As a result of the fight, she lost two canine teeth.{{Cite web|last=Pallavi|date=2016-05-30|title=Machli- the Tigress matriarch of Ranthambore turns 20|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/machli-the-tigress-matriarch-of-ranthambore-turns-20-2113352.html|access-date=2021-05-17|website=|language=en}} She was also known for her ferocity in protecting her cubs from threats such as male tigers and other animals.
= Recognition =
India earned about US$10{{nbsp}}million per year due to tourists attracted by the tigress.{{cite web |title=The World's Most Photographed Tigress, Machli Of Ranthambore, Turned 20 This Month |date=27 May 2016|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/the-world-s-most-photographed-tigress-machli-of-ranthambore-turned-20-this-month-255783.html}} She won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" of Travel Operators For Tigers due to her contribution to conservation and as a tourist attraction that earned significant income for India.{{cite web | url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/two-wild-tigers-get-lifetime-achievement-award-314507.html | title=Two wild Tigers get 'Lifetime Achievement Award' | publisher=CNN-IBN | date=24 April 2009 | access-date=12 August 2015}}
In 2013, the Indian government issued a commemorative postal cover and stamp to honour the tigress for her ecological and economical contributions.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Stamp-of-honour-for-Ranthambhore-tigress-Machli/articleshow/22673425.cms|title='Stamp' of honour for Ranthambhore tigress Machli|date=18 September 2013|work=The Times of India|access-date=12 August 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ranthambore-national-park-machli-ranthambore-tigress-missing/1/339851.html|title=Most popular Ranthambore tigress, Machli goes missing|access-date=20 August 2016}}
= In the media =
Machli is considered to have been the most photographed tigress in the world. She was featured in a number of wildlife documentaries, including a 50-minute documentary about her life, titled Tiger Queen, which was aired on the National Geographic and Animal Planet channels.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/watching-machli-the-tiger-queen-of-yore/article3364894.ece|title=Watching Machali, the Tiger Queen of yore...|date=28 April 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=12 August 2015|last1=Sebastian|first1=Sunny}}{{cite web|url=http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/big-cat-week/galleries/tiger-dynasty/at/tiger-queen-67172/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129133509/http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/big-cat-week/galleries/tiger-dynasty/at/tiger-queen-67172/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2012|title=Tiger Dynasty – Tiger Queen|publisher=National Geography|access-date=12 August 2015}} In 2012, the story of Machli was aired on the BBC's Natural World in an episode titled "Queen of Tigers: Natural World Special".{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nhwyz|title=Queen of Tigers: Natural World Special|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 August 2015}}{{IMDb title|qid=Q128515171|title=The Natural World: Queen of Tigers (TV Episode 2012)}}
= Later years and death =
As a result of her age, Machali lost almost all of her teeth, sight in one eye and much of her strength in her later years. She also lost her territory, as her daughter Sundari, born in her last litter, drove her out of her turf. As she was unable to hunt and kill for herself, park staff provided her with food. This intervention became somewhat controversial; tiger expert K Ullas Karanth commented that it resulted in Machali living longer than she should have, and that truly wild animals should be born, live and die naturally.{{Cite web|url=http://qz.com/761157/indias-famous-crocodile-hunting-female-tiger-machli-has-died/|title=India's famous crocodile-hunting female tiger, Machli, has died|last=Punit|first=Itika Sharma|date=18 August 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=20 August 2016}}
In August 2016 Machali became critically ill. Due to her great age, it was considered risky for Ranthambore's rangers and staff to treat and aid her as the medications needed could be harmful or fatal.{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/machli-ranthambore-tiger-critical/1/741515.html|title=Machli of Ranthambore, most photographed tigress, dies}} She died on 18 August 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.firstpost.com/living/machli-queen-of-ranthambore-and-perhaps-the-most-photographed-tigress-on-earth-an-obituary-2963686.html?utm_ | title=Machhli, Queen of Ranthambore and perhaps the most photographed tigress on earth: An obituary | work=First Post | date=18 August 2016 | access-date=19 August 2016 | author=Navin M Raheja}}{{cite web | url=http://www.news18.com/news/rajasthan/ranthambores-royal-tigress-now-too-old-to-hunt-740367.html | title=Ranthambore's 'royal tigress' now too old to hunt | publisher=News18 | date=25 May 2015 | access-date=14 August 2015}} She was 19 years old, older than the average 12 year lifespan of tigers in the wild. She was cremated in observance with traditional Hindu rituals in a public ceremony.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/legendary-ranthambore-tigress-machhli-dies-690249#AzG6ZYzD1ehbDQwB.97|title=Legendary Ranthambore tigress Machhli dies, cremated with full Hindu rituals [PHOTO]|website=International Business Times |date=18 August 2016}}
The last few years of Machali's life were captured on film by wildlife filmmaker S. Nallamuthu. Titled 'The World's Most Famous Tiger', the film contains a two-minute showdown between Machali and her daughter Sundari that ends with the former losing control of the Ranthambore Fort and the unusual instance of a former mate joining her in what seemed an act of companionship.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news|title=Film captures life of Machli|date=6 May 2018|work=The Times of India|access-date=7 May 2018}}
Phylogeny
The cladogram below shows the phylogeny (progeny or offspring) of Machali with code names and/or nicknames. From 1999 to 2006, she gave birth to at least eleven cubs.{{cite web | url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/09/06&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00103&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828164914/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIJ/2010/09/06&PageLabel=1&EntityId=Ar00103&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 August 2016 | title=Ranthambore 'Machli' on her last legs | access-date=23 August 2016}}{{cite web | url=http://thelastwilderness.org/experiences/ranthambore.html | title=Ranthambhore Diaries | access-date=23 August 2016}}
{{clade
|label1=Machali
|1={{clade
|label1=Male X
|1={{clade
|1=ST2 (female)
|2=ST3 (female)}}
|label2=Bamboo Ram
|2={{clade
|1=Slant Ear – T0 (male)
|2=Broken Tail (male)}}
|label3=Nick Ear
|3={{clade
|1=Jhumari (female)
|2=Jhumaroo (male)}}
|label4=Male X
|4={{clade
|1= Bunty – T3 (male)
|2= Bubbly – T1 (female) }}
|label5=Male X
|5={{clade
|1=Satra/Sundari – T17 (female)
|2=Athara/Baghani – T18 (female)
|3=Unnis/Krishna – T19 (female)}}
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Panthera tigris tigris in the Ranthambore National Park|Offspring of Machli and other Bengal tigers in the park}}
{{External media
| video1={{YouTube|on9wc57qJKI | T16 Machli on Trail {{!}} Ranthambore Tigers}}
| video2={{YouTube|7_gERPEAyFA | Tiger Queen – Own Rules (National Geographic)}}
| video3={{YouTube|uYC_R-tsrEU | Tigress Machli Kills 14 foot long Crocodile}}
| video4={{YouTube|TABMdrMi9Go | Tigress Machli fights male tiger to protect her cubs}}
| video5={{YouTube|WyAdbOYglJ0|Tigers Revenge Wild Animal Documentary 2015 HD - National Geographic Documentary}}
}}