RIP Machli! India’s most famous tiger, dies in Ranthambore aged 19

RIP Machli! India’s most famous tiger, dies in Ranthambore aged 19

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India’s most renowned tiger, 19-year-old Machli, has died, officials say.

Known as the “Queen of Ranthambore”, Machli was described as among the world’s most photographed tigers. She had distinctive fish shaped markings.

She featured in many documentaries – and viewers that were amazed when her fight with a 14-foot crocodile was caught on film.

She was one of the largest draws for thousands of tourists visiting with Ranthambore National Park,

India has more than half the world’s tigers, at 2,226 in the latest approximation.

Machli was found starving and lying on her side near the park’s border in northern Rajasthan state. She had not eaten in days, officials said.

“We were trying to supply her treatment but she expired. It was a natural death linked to her age,”

Ranthambore tiger project director Yogesh Kumar Sahu told AFP news agency.

Machli lost virtually all of her teeth and had slowed down lately, based on the site of the park.

Machli’s passing has made headlines in India, and enthusiasts have taken to social media to pay their respects to the “Queen of Ranthambore”.

She was named Machli, the Hindi word for fish, because of the markings.