Watch: Wildlife enthusiast from Hyderabad captures final moments of Ranthambore’s legendary tigress Arrowhead

Wildlife enthusiast Anirudh Laxmipathy from Hyderabad recalls witnessing the final act of Ranthambore’s iconic tigress Arrowhead — a crocodile hunt just days before her death. Battling health issues, the legendary tigress passed away on June 19, leaving the forest in mourning

Hyderabad: Little did Anirudh Laxmipathy, a wildlife enthusiast from Hyderabad, realise that less than a week after sighting the iconic Ranthambore tigress Arrowhead, he would be mourning her tragic end. The magnificent tigress, a favourite among visitors at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, passed away on June 19, days after Anirudh’s unforgettable encounter with her.

The 40-year-old Anirudh was on a routine visit to Ranthambore on June 14 when he witnessed a moment few could imagine — a visibly frail Arrowhead hunting and dragging a crocodile from the lake. Unknown to many then, it was one of her final acts of defiance before succumbing to health complications she had battled for over two years.

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“Ranthambore will forever echo with tales of Arrowhead’s valour and resilience,” Anirudh told Telangana Today. “She is a legend by all means, now etched on the sands of time for her mind-boggling feats that surpassed those of earlier generations.”

Describing the moment, Anirudh recalled, “When we reached the Padam Talao lakebed, we had a strange feeling it might be her ‘last dance’. She appeared weak and struggled to move. Yet, what followed left us stunned — her sheer tenacity and grit as she took on a crocodile, despite her failing health.”

The MBA graduate from IIM Ranchi, who works in risk analytics in the banking sector, said, “Watching her pull the crocodile using every ounce of her strength was extraordinary. That memory will remain frozen in my mind forever.”

He added, “It’s heartbreaking to know she passed away just days after that unforgettable sighting. My next visit to Ranthambore won’t be the same without Queen Arrowhead.”

As forest officials, guides, gypsy drivers, and wildlife enthusiasts gathered to bid farewell to the queen of Ranthambore, it was indeed a fitting tribute to a majestic and unforgettable tigress.

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