In a poignant moment of wildlife conservation, Ranthambore National Park says goodbye to Arrowhead (T‑84)—its iconic tigress—who succumbed to bone cancer and a brain tumor on June 19, 2025. Sachin Rai, a famous wildlife photographer, witnessed her "last walk" in an emotionally poignant video shared on Instagram.
/*Life and Legacy of a Queen*/
Arrowhead was born in 2014 to tigress Krishna (T‑19), and as the granddaughter of the legendary Machli, Ranthambore's "Queen Mother," she was destined for greatness. With her unique arrow-shaped facial mark and aggressive approach to hunting, she was a force to be reckoned with in Zones 2–5, patrolling the lakeside territories in her heyday.
/*Final Days and Illness*/
In the last few months, forest rangers saw Arrowhead weaken from an attack of bone cancer and malignant brain cancer. On June 17, she took her final faltering steps on Padam Talab—captured in photographs by Rai. The next couple of days had her lying motionless in the shade of a tree, unable to walk upright again. She passed away peacefully on June 19.
/*Bravery in the Wilderness: Crocodile Hunter*/
Even in deteriorating health, Arrowhead exhibited the legendary spirit of her lineage—recently engaging and killing a crocodile near Jogi Mahal, affirming ancestral hunting instincts. This rare behavior echoed Machli’s famed crocodile hunts, further cementing her status as a wildlife icon.
/*Forest Response & Community Mourning*/
Rather than being buried, Arrowhead was cremated by the Ranthambore authorities at Rajbagh according to NTCA guidelines. Forest Director Anup K. R. and hundreds of wildlife photographers paid their respects, and numerous internet fans were grieving her demise. There were no human casualties resultant from this accident; the news came via forest personnel and the press only.
/*Future of Her Legacy*/
Arrowhead was a prolific female, having given birth to four litters and reportedly raising as many as ten cubs—six of which remain alive today, including Kankati, recently relocated. Her offspring will continue to shape the tiger gene pool at Ranthambore and in conservation generally.