Famed Ranthambore tigress takes down crocodile two days before dying in epic fight
Arrowhead’s last roar
Ranthambore: She lived up to a legendary name—and died with the same fire in her veins. In a scene reminiscent of her grandmother Machhli, Ranthambore’s famed ‘Crocodile Killer’, tigress Arrowhead (T-84) brought down a crocodile in a fierce battle just two days before her death.
The 14-year-old tigress died on Thursday following a prolonged battle with bone cancer. Her passing came just hours after her daughter, Kankati (T-2507), was relocated to the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. Kankati had allegedly been involved in two fatal attacks, including the death of a forest ranger, which prompted forest officials to transfer her in the interest of public safety.
Born to tigress Krishna (T-19) and descended from Machhli (T-16)—arguably one of India’s most photographed and celebrated tigress—Arrowhead carried forward a powerful lineage of strength, beauty, and survival. Living up to her legacy, Arrowhead became known for her rare ability to kill crocodiles — an extraordinary feat that drew admiration and awe.
In a remarkable final act of dominance, Arrowhead ambushed a crocodile near Padam Talab in Zone 3 of the park, just two days before her death. According to a report by NDTV, the fearless tigress had been lying in wait near the water’s edge at Jogimahal before pouncing on the crocodile as it emerged from the lake. Eyewitnesses described a brief but intense struggle that lasted barely a minute, ending with the tigress sinking her powerful jaws into the reptile’s neck and dragging its lifeless body into the nearby forest.
Fare thee well Arrowhead 💔
— Anirudh Laxmipathy (@anirudh123) June 19, 2025
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Did not go gentle into that good night ,
Raged against the dying of light,
Always a blazing star in our hearts
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I was incredibly lucky to witness an extremely frail Arrowhead take down a crocodile - a testament to her indomitable resilience and grit pic.twitter.com/BFfwZBruaw
Photos and videos of the brutal incident quickly went viral, capturing Arrowhead’s ferocity and unrelenting power, even in the twilight of her life, as she summoned the last of her strength to haul the heavy carcass into the jungle. The scene felt almost scripted, a mirror image of her grandmother Machhli’s most legendary hunts.
Arrowhead had been under veterinary observation for weeks due to her deteriorating health. Wildlife photographer Sachin Rai saw her just two evenings before she breathed her last—by the banks of Padam Talab, struggling to move. Yet, in a final act of power, she proved that the spirit of her bloodline remained unbroken until the very end.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
