The old lady has seen it all over the years, and though she has outlived most of her offspring, no mother can help but grieve at her latest loss, that of her daughter Satra (T17). No parent should witness the death of their children, but in this land of the survival of the fittest, where all is not equal, tigresses will witness the death of many of their offspring, especially if they live through seventeen blisteringly hot summers.

Her daughter’s disappearance may be only partly felt by Machali, given that she now resides in the Lakarda valley in her dotage, and not in the swathe of dazzling lakes, ruined battlements, chattri’s and temples that were once her home. Her daughter had removed her from this famous domain, after many hard fought clashes with both tooth and claw.  

Unnis, another of her pretty daughters, and sister to Satra, has now taken over her ex sister’s and before this, her old mother’s territory. She has also fallen under the spell of her sister’s nemesis, the great Sitara (T28), who had been the cause of Satra’s demise. Such is the unending drama that befall tigers in this stark desert forest.

However, though Machali has often been consigned - by both forest and creative filmmakers - to tigress heaven, she still finds plenty to occupy here on planet earth. Her latest victim is a large Sambar deer - who probably thought he could outrun the old tigress too - but he was gravely mistaken, and became a load of lunchs instead.

Ranthambhore’s Grandmum is still not outdone for pace and no sooner destined for heaven than any of her noble lineage - or for that matter, any other carnivore competitors.