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 đź’”
— 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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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
