24-06-2025
Famed Ranthambore tigress Arrowhead laid to rest, IFS officer says she ‘strengthened gene pools and rewrote conservation'
Arrowhead, one of the most photographed tigresses who once ruled Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park, succumbed to a brain tumour on June 19. Her death came hours after her daughter was relocated to another tiger reserve. Also known as Tigress T-84, she is the granddaughter of the legendary 'Machali,' the most photographed tigress.
As Arrowhead was laid to rest, Parveen Kaswan, an IFS officer, shared a heartwarming post. 'The famous arrowhead tigress from Ranthambore was given last rites, one of the most photographed tigress. Carried bloodline of Ranthambhore. She raised cubs that helped repopulate parts of Ranthambhore and other tiger reserves. Strengthened gene pools and rewrote conservation,' Kaswan wrote.
Along with the post, Kaswan also shared a picture of the final rites of the tigress performed by forest officials.
See here:
The famous arrowhead tigress from Ranthambore was given last rites, one of the most photographed tigress.
Carried bloodline of Ranthambhore. She raised cubs that helped repopulate parts of Ranthambhore and other tiger reserves. Strengthened gene pools and rewrote conservation.
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) June 24, 2025
According to the official website of Ranthambore National Park, in February 2018, Arrowhead gave birth to her first litter of three cubs, but they disappeared just days after their birth. She then gave birth again in January 2019 to two cubs, T-124, Riddhi; and T-125, Siddhi, who went on to become notable young tigresses themselves.
In July 2021, Arrowhead delivered her third litter, again comprising three cubs, but they also disappeared shortly after birth. Her fourth and final litter arrived on July 25, 2023, with another set of three cubs.
'Arrowhead inherited a rich legacy from her legendary bloodline. She got her bravery from her grandmother, Machli. Her calm and composed demeanour was from her mother, T-19, also known as the Jhalra Female and a wild charm that was her own,' the website noted.
'True to her name, she has a distinctive arrow-shaped mark on her left cheek, similar to her grandmother's. Arrowhead was born from the mating of T-19 and T-28, a Star Male, continuing a royal tiger lineage,' the website added.
