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| Arrowhead: Remembering India's iconic crocodile-hunting tigress | Arrowhead: Remembering India's iconic crocodile-hunting tigress |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Arrowhead got her name from the arrow-shaped stripe on her cheek | Arrowhead got her name from the arrow-shaped stripe on her cheek |
| Indian wildlife photographer Sachin Rai still remembers tigress "Arrowhead" pouncing on a crocodile and tearing away its leathery flesh with her teeth. | Indian wildlife photographer Sachin Rai still remembers tigress "Arrowhead" pouncing on a crocodile and tearing away its leathery flesh with her teeth. |
| Mr Rai had been photographing the iconic tigress in western Rajasthan state's Ranthambore national park since she was a cub. | Mr Rai had been photographing the iconic tigress in western Rajasthan state's Ranthambore national park since she was a cub. |
| Last week, Arrowhead, also known as T-84, died at the age of 11 near a stretch of lakes in the scenic park, the very territory she had gloriously ruled over in her prime. | Last week, Arrowhead, also known as T-84, died at the age of 11 near a stretch of lakes in the scenic park, the very territory she had gloriously ruled over in her prime. |
| Her death, caused by an illness, was mourned by hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and tour guides who had flocked to the park to get a glimpse of her. | Her death, caused by an illness, was mourned by hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and tour guides who had flocked to the park to get a glimpse of her. |
| Arrowhead's legendary status comes partly from her lineage; she is the daughter of Krishna and granddaughter of Machli - majestic tigresses who, once upon a time, dominated vast home ranges in Ranthambore with ferocity. | Arrowhead's legendary status comes partly from her lineage; she is the daughter of Krishna and granddaughter of Machli - majestic tigresses who, once upon a time, dominated vast home ranges in Ranthambore with ferocity. |
| They were also skilled crocodile-killers, known to incapacitate the massive creatures by crushing their skulls in their powerful jaws. | They were also skilled crocodile-killers, known to incapacitate the massive creatures by crushing their skulls in their powerful jaws. |
| Arrowhead ruled over her vast home range with ferocity | Arrowhead ruled over her vast home range with ferocity |
| Mr Rai says that Arrowhead - named such by another wildlife photographer after the distinct arrow-shaped stripes on her cheek - took to killing crocodiles after her health began failing her. | Mr Rai says that Arrowhead - named such by another wildlife photographer after the distinct arrow-shaped stripes on her cheek - took to killing crocodiles after her health began failing her. |
| "But even though she was weak and frail, the crocodiles were no match for her," Mr Rai says. | "But even though she was weak and frail, the crocodiles were no match for her," Mr Rai says. |
| Her kills earned her the nickname "crocodile-hunter" by her fans, he adds. In fact, she killed a crocodile just days before her death. | Her kills earned her the nickname "crocodile-hunter" by her fans, he adds. In fact, she killed a crocodile just days before her death. |
| Though graceful and fierce, Arrowhead had a difficult life, Mr Rai says. She was chased out of her territory by her own daughter, Riddhi, and had to mate multiple times in order to find a place she could call home. (A male tiger shares his territory with his mate, offering her a space to bring up their cubs.) | Though graceful and fierce, Arrowhead had a difficult life, Mr Rai says. She was chased out of her territory by her own daughter, Riddhi, and had to mate multiple times in order to find a place she could call home. (A male tiger shares his territory with his mate, offering her a space to bring up their cubs.) |
| Arrowhead strolls through her territory in Ranthambore national park | Arrowhead strolls through her territory in Ranthambore national park |
| This image captures Arrowhead (right) chasing away a tiger she did not want to mate with | This image captures Arrowhead (right) chasing away a tiger she did not want to mate with |
| Arrowhead gave birth to four litters in her lifetime, but not all of her children survived. | Arrowhead gave birth to four litters in her lifetime, but not all of her children survived. |
| She grew weak after developing a tumour and park official's would have to bring her food when she couldn't hunt for days. However, this was stopped after some of her cubs attacked and killed people. | She grew weak after developing a tumour and park official's would have to bring her food when she couldn't hunt for days. However, this was stopped after some of her cubs attacked and killed people. |
| Mr Rai, who was around when Arrowhead was nearing her end, says that it was heart-breaking to see a powerful, majestic creature become so weak and powerless. | Mr Rai, who was around when Arrowhead was nearing her end, says that it was heart-breaking to see a powerful, majestic creature become so weak and powerless. |
| "I saw her struggling to walk. Every step seemed like an effort and she kept falling down," he says. | "I saw her struggling to walk. Every step seemed like an effort and she kept falling down," he says. |
| Interestingly, Arrowhead ventured into her daughter Riddhi's territory - which was once her own - in her last days. | Interestingly, Arrowhead ventured into her daughter Riddhi's territory - which was once her own - in her last days. |
| "Riddhi didn't put up a fight. She just gave her mother space to lie down and rest," Mr Rai says, tearing up. | "Riddhi didn't put up a fight. She just gave her mother space to lie down and rest," Mr Rai says, tearing up. |
| Arrowhead ruled over a stretch of lakes in Ranthambore | Arrowhead ruled over a stretch of lakes in Ranthambore |
| Additional reporting by Antriksha Pathania | |
| Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. | Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. |