Arrowhead: Remembering India's iconic crocodile-hunting tigress
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.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.)
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.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.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.
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