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Tigress T-2, face of tiger revival in Panna dies at 19
Bhopal: The legendary big cat, Tigress T-2, that led one of India's most successful wildlife revival stories at Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh died at the age of about 19 on May 28.
The Madhya Pradesh forest department announced the death of Tigress, whose litters are spread across tiger reserves in India on Monday.
The death of the T-2 in the Devendra Nagar Forest Range marks the end of an era for Panna Tiger Reserve, which was declared tiger-less in 2009.
Tigress T-2 was among the first tigers reintroduced under the Panna Tiger Reintroduction Programme— a flagship conservation effort launched in response to the disappearance of all tigers from the reserve.
On March 9, 2009, T-2 was airlifted from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Panna by an Indian Air Force aircraft. It followed Tigress T-1, who had arrived a few days earlier from Bandhavgarh. After spending a brief acclimatization period in a specially prepared enclosure at Badgadi, T-2 was soft-released into the wild — beginning what would become one of India's most successful tiger repopulation journeys.
In the following years, T-2 paired with male tiger T-3, brought from Pench Tiger Reserve, and became the foundation of the restored Panna tiger lineage.
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The animal gave birth to 21 cubs in 7 litters, with the first recorded in October 2010 and the last in July 2019. The litters were impressively large and healthy, including sets of 4, 3, and even 2 cubs per litter. These cubs went on to disperse and populate other protected areas, many as part of managed reintroduction and natural migration.
Today, T-2's genetic legacy spans more than 85 tigers across four generations, and its descendants can be found in tiger reserves and protected landscapes across India, including: Satpura Tiger Reserve (P-211, P-213 (23)), Sanjay Tiger Reserve (P-212, P-213 (33)), Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (P-242), Chitrakoot Forest (P-262), Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (P-213 (21)), Satna Forest Division (Chitrakoot) (P-213 (22)), Madhav National Park, Shivpuri (P-234 23 (22)) and Panna Landscape (P-221, P-231, P-232, P-261).
Throughout the nearly two-decade-long life, Tigress T-2 roamed the Hinouta, Gahrighat, Madla, Gangau Sanctuary, and Devendranagar Range — all within the core and buffer areas of Panna Tiger Reserve. She was last documented through camera trap surveillance during Phase-IV monitoring in 2023–24, in the Hinouta Range.
Forest officials highlight the tigress's remarkable longevity — living to nearly 19 years, far exceeding the average wild tiger lifespan of 12–15 years.
Its sustained health and ability to reproduce over a long period also reflect the success of Panna's habitat management, anti-poaching efforts, and prey base restoration. Officials say T-2 was not just a success story; it was the symbol of hope, resilience, and capacity to repair what was once lost.
Its legacy has redefined what conservation in India can achieve.
The Panna field director and MP forest department released a joint statement: "We will forever remember T-2 as the mother of Panna. Her life has secured the future of the species in this landscape. Her memory will continue to inspire tiger conservation efforts across the country."
