The tigresses 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. I love her so much even though she is not here any more.

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.

Noor was Machli's daughter but she was not as famous as her mum — not because she wasn't amazing, but because she was quieter and more sneaky! She held her territory in Zones 1 and 6 for many years. She was actually REALLY important because she raised so many healthy cubs. Sometimes the quiet ones are the strongest!

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

Sultana lives in Zone 1 which has the best lakes and most famous spots in Ranthambore. To hold that territory you have to be very strong, because every tiger wants to live there! Sultana is very bold — she walks along the forest paths like she completely owns the place. Which she does!

Sultana's first litter of 3 cubs all survived. Sadly her second litter didn't make it, which is very sad. But Sultana is still strong and still in Zone 1.

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.

Noorie got her name from her mum Noor — which is so sweet! She lives in Zones 1 and 2 and is very bold and confident. She marks her territory clearly and safari guides often spot her along the main forest paths. Her dad is T-57 called Singhsth.

Noorie was born in 2016. One of her sisters went to Mukundara Hills. Noorie has her own cubs now too — she is keeping the Noor line going in Ranthambore! Like passing a torch from mum to daughter, forever.

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 the forest department has not spotted them for a while which is worrying. I really hope they are okay and just hiding somewhere safe in the forest. Please be okay, Siddhi's babies.

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.