Tigers of Ranthambore

Machli was the most photographed tiger in the whole world! She loved the lakes - Padam Talao and Rajbagh - and she lived there for so long. She was incredibly brave. One time she fought a giant crocodile to protect her babies! Nobody had ever seen a tiger do that before. She lived to about 19 years old, which is really really old for a wild tiger. India even made a stamp with her face on it - she was that famous!

Machli had at least 11 cubs across four litters. Her daughters Krishna and Noor became dominant tigresses in their own right. Through them, almost every tiger in Ranthambore today is part of her family. She is the great-great-grandma of Ridhi and Siddhi who we can still see today! When she died, India gave her a state funeral.

Arrowhead had a special marking on her forehead that looked exactly like an arrowhead - that's how she got her name! She was Krishna's daughter and Machli's granddaughter. She was very brave and territorial, and she lived around the beautiful Rajbagh lake. Her daughters Ridhi and Siddhi carry her legacy forward every single day.

She had 2 cubs in 2020 and 3 more in 2022. Her daughters Ridhi (T-124) and Siddhi (T-125) are now grown up and have their own babies! Even though Arrowhead is gone, her family is still in the forest.

Shakti means STRENGTH and she really is! She patrols Zone 4 and the Kundera range with great confidence. She had her first litter of four babies in 2021 - which is extraordinary! Imagine hunting enough food for four hungry tiger cubs every single day. She is absolutely amazing.

Two litters: 4 cubs in 2021 and 2 more in 2025! Six cubs altogether - she is one of the most successful mums in Ranthambore right now.

Ridhi is my absolute favourite. She is calm and quiet and beautiful. She lives in Zone 3 near Padam Talao - the same lakes her great-great-grandmother Machli used to rule! She walks through the forest like everything is perfectly fine. Which it is, because she is in charge.

In 2023, Ridhi had 3 babies - 2 boys and 1 girl! The dad is T-120 called Ganesh, confirmed by the Rajasthan Forest Department.

Siddhi is Ridhi's younger sister. She is quieter and more stealthy - you don't always know she is there until suddenly there she is! She made Zone 5 completely her own territory. The Antpura and Kundera areas are very beautiful.

Siddhi had 3 cubs in late 2024. Sadly only one cub has survived - but that cub is doing well and is now 17 months old! We follow this cub's progress closely and wish them a long and healthy life.

Krishna was one of Machli's daughters and she was extremely important even if she wasn't as famous. She held Zone 2 for many years and was a very powerful tigress. The reason almost every tiger in Ranthambore today is related to Machli is actually largely because of Krishna. She is the secret hero of the whole story!

Krishna's famous cubs include Arrowhead (T-84), Sultana (T-107) and Shakti (T-111). Through Arrowhead she became the grandmother of Ridhi and Siddhi. She is the grandmother of almost every tiger we can see in Ranthambore right now.

Noor has held her territory in Zones 1 and 6 for many years. She is quieter and more elusive than some of the other famous tigresses - but she is absolutely remarkable. She is experienced, powerful, and a successful mother.

Noor has had several successful litters. Her most famous cub is Noorie (T-105) who still patrols Zone 1 today. One of Noorie's sisters was relocated to Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. Noor's family stays strong in Ranthambore.

Sultana is Noor's daughter and patrols Zone 1 with great confidence. She walks along the forest paths like she completely owns the place - which she does! She is bold, territorial and well-documented by guides and safari visitors.

Sultana holds one of the most prized territories in Ranthambore - Zone 1, with the beautiful Padam Talao lake. Her mother Noor established this as a stronghold for their line.

Noorie was born in 2016. She is Noor's daughter and has grown into a strong, established tigress in her own right - bold and well-known to safari guides in Zones 1 and 2. She has not had cubs yet but is very much a tigress to watch.

One of Noorie's sisters was relocated to Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve. Noorie stayed in Ranthambore and has made Zone 1 her home, following in her mother's footsteps.

Slant Ear was one of Machli's very first cubs, from her first litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male). She got her name from a distinctive fold in one of her ears - a feature that made her easy to identify. She was among the earliest tigers to carry Machli's legendary genes forward in Ranthambore.

Slant Ear was part of Machli's first litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male), alongside Nick. She was one of the founding members of the Machli dynasty.

Nick was one of Machli's earliest cubs from her first litter with T-2. Not much is recorded about him specifically, but as one of Machli's first offspring he was part of the very beginning of the dynasty that now dominates Ranthambore.

Nick was Slant Ear's sibling from Machli's first litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male).

Jhumru was from Machli's second litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male). The name means a type of folk dance in Hindi - a lively, rhythmic name for a Ranthambore tiger! Machli's willingness to mate with T-2 multiple times shows how successful and dominant that pairing was.

Jhumru was the sibling of Jhumri, from Machli's second litter with T-2.

Jhumri was from Machli's second litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male), the sibling of Jhumru. Their names are a pair - Jhumru and Jhumri together, like two sides of the same story. As with all of Machli's cubs, she carried some of the most important genes in all of Ranthambore.

Jhumri was Jhumru's sibling from Machli's second litter with T-2.

Babli - T-1 - was from Machli's third litter with T-2. The name Babli is a sweet, affectionate nickname in Hindi, and it suits her perfectly. She was one of the early documented tigers of Ranthambore and carried Machli's genes into the next generation.

Babli was Bunty's sibling from Machli's third litter with T-2 (Chiroli Male).

Bunty - T-3 - was Babli's sibling and one of Machli's third litter with T-2. His name is a classic Indian nickname, often given to beloved and playful characters! T-3 later became significant in the family tree as the father of T-120 and T-121 when he mated with T-63.

Bunty later mated with T-63 (Krishna's daughter) and fathered T-120 and T-121.

T-17 was from Machli's litter with Star Male. He eventually grew up to be known as T-28 himself - a dominant male who would go on to father more cubs with his own mother Krishna! He fathered T-73, T-74 and T-75.

T-17 grew up to become a dominant male (T-28) and fathered T-73, T-74 and T-75. He was later the mate of Krishna.

T-18 was from Machli's litter with Star Male. She was selected by wildlife authorities to help repopulate Sariska Tiger Reserve - which had lost all its tigers to poachers. Moving tigers from Ranthambore to Sariska was a landmark moment in Indian conservation. T-18 became part of that historic comeback story.

T-18 was relocated to Sariska Tiger Reserve as part of India's tiger repopulation programme - one of the most important conservation moves in Ranthambore's history.

T-73 was one of T-17's three cubs. He was part of the generation that expanded the Machli dynasty across more zones of Ranthambore, carrying both Machli's maternal genes and the powerful Star Male genes.

T-73 was the sibling of T-74 and T-75.

T-74 was one of T-17's cubs and one of the most important tigresses in the family tree even though she is not famous by name. She mated with Krishna (T-19) and their litter produced Shakti (T-111), T-112 (Jam) and T-113 (Pie) - so T-74 is the grandmother of Durga and great-grandmother of Durga's 4 cubs!

T-74 mated with her half-sibling Krishna (T-19), producing Krishna's third litter including Shakti (T-111).

T-75 was the third cub of T-17, sibling to T-73 and T-74. He was part of the second generation of the Machli dynasty expanding through the forests of Ranthambore.

T-75 was the sibling of T-73 and T-74.

T-63 was from Krishna's first litter with Star Male (T-28). She is notable because she later mated with Bunty (T-3) - Machli's own son - and gave birth to T-120 and T-121. This means T-120 and T-121 are doubly descended from Machli on both sides of their family!

T-63 mated with Bunty (T-3), who was also Machli's son, making their cubs doubly part of the Machli dynasty.

T-64 is known by two names - Suraj (meaning "sun" in Hindi) and Chanda (meaning "moon"). This double name suggests the tiger was known by different names to different guides and researchers over time. T-64 was from Krishna's first litter with Star Male T-28.

T-64 was the sibling of T-63 and T-65 (Aakash) from Krishna's first litter.

T-65 was named Aakash, meaning "sky" in Hindi - a grand name for a tiger. He was from Krishna's first litter with Star Male T-28, sibling to T-63 and T-64.

Aakash was one of three cubs in Krishna's first litter with Star Male T-28.

T-120 is the offspring of T-63 and Bunty (T-3) - meaning both parents were children of Machli! T-120 is therefore doubly descended from the Queen of Ranthambore. Later, T-121 (his sibling) went on to mate with Durga, making T-120's nephew or niece part of the next generation.

T-120 is doubly descended from Machli through both parents.

T-121 is one of the most important tigers in the current generation. Born from T-63 and Bunty (T-3), he is doubly descended from Machli. He later mated with Durga (Shakti's daughter) and their 4 cubs represent the youngest known generation of the Machli dynasty!

T-121 and Durga's 4 cubs are the current youngest known generation of the entire Machli dynasty.

T-83 was from Krishna's second litter with Star Male T-28, the same litter that produced the famous Arrowhead (T-84). He was one of three siblings in this litter alongside Arrowhead and T-85.

T-83 was Arrowhead's sibling from Krishna's second litter.

T-85 was from Krishna's second litter with Star Male T-28 - the same litter as the famous Arrowhead (T-84). He was Arrowhead's sibling.

T-85 was Arrowhead and T-83's sibling from Krishna's second litter.

Meera/Mahi/Priya (T-2504) is one of Ridhi's three cubs born in 2023 in Zone 3. She carries five generations of the Machli dynasty in her genes - from Machli all the way down through Krishna, Arrowhead, Ridhi and now Meera/Mahi/Priya. She is one of the youngest named tigers in Ranthambore and has her whole life ahead of her!

Meera/Mahi/Priya is the 5th generation of the Machli dynasty!

Shubh (T-2505) is one of Ridhi's three cubs born in 2023. His name means "auspicious" or "lucky" in Hindi - a wonderful name for a tiger carrying on Machli's legendary dynasty into a fifth generation!

Shubh is the 5th generation of the Machli dynasty!

Lub. (T-2506) is Ridhi's third cub from the 2023 litter. All three of Ridhi's cubs - Meera/Mahi/Priya, Shubh and Lub. - are fifth-generation descendants of the great Machli. We watch their progress on every safari!

Lub. is the 5th generation of the Machli dynasty!

T-112, nicknamed Jam, was from Krishna's third litter with T-74. His nickname suits a young tiger perfectly - sweet, small, sticky! He is the sibling of Shakti (T-111) and T-113 (Pie), making him part of one of the most productive litters in the dynasty.

Jam is the sibling of Shakti (T-111) and Pie (T-113) from Krishna's third litter.

T-113 was nicknamed Pie - another delightful food nickname alongside sibling Jam! T-113 was from Krishna's third litter with T-74, alongside Shakti (T-111) and Jam (T-112). Together Jam and Pie are a wonderfully named pair.

Pie is the sibling of Shakti (T-111) and Jam (T-112) from Krishna's third litter.

Durga (T-2307) is Shakti's daughter from her litter with T-86. She was named after the powerful Hindu goddess - an entirely fitting name for a tigress! Durga later mated with T-121 and gave birth to 4 cubs, making her a mother and adding a fifth generation to this extraordinary dynasty.

Durga's 4 cubs with T-121 represent the current youngest known generation of the entire Machli family.

T-2308 is one of Shakti's cubs from her litter with T-86. As Shakti's offspring, T-2308 is a fourth-generation descendant of Machli through the Krishna line. Every safari sighting of this tiger is a sighting of Machli's extraordinary legacy.

T-2308 is the sibling of Durga (T-2307) and T-2309.

T-2309 is one of Shakti's cubs from her litter with T-86, sibling to Durga and T-2308. A fourth-generation descendant of Machli, this tiger carries one of the most important genetic legacies in all of India's tiger population.

T-2309 is the sibling of Durga (T-2307) and T-2308.

These 4 cubs are the youngest known generation of the entire Machli dynasty! Their mother Durga (T-2307) is Shakti's daughter, and their father T-121 is doubly descended from Machli through both T-63 and Bunty (T-3). These cubs therefore carry Machli's genes from multiple lines - they are living proof of just how vast and extraordinary this dynasty has become.

These are the 5th generation of the Machli dynasty - the youngest known descendants of the Queen of Ranthambore.