In the UK, the closest you’ll get to a real life tiger is at a zoo or big cat sanctuary. Failing that, you’ll have to settle for story books and family shows like The Tiger Who Came to Tea. But in India, visitors to the Ranthambore National Park can encounter the tigers who live there, the most famous of which was named Machli. Let’s learn about this beloved tigress and why she captured the hearts of so many.

The life of Machli

Machli was born in the spring of 1997 alongside two sisters. Her name meant ‘fish’ in Hindi due to the fish-shaped mark on her left ear. She was the dominant of the three cubs, and at the age of two she separated from her mother, acquiring some of her territory. 

Over the course of seven years - between 1999 and 2006 - Machli had a total of five litters, raising eleven cubs altogether. This helped to increase the tiger population in her home, as well as helping out other reserves; in 2008 two of her female cubs were relocated to the Sariska Tiger Reserve to boost its population. 

Machli’s territory spanned 350 square miles - the largest area of the park. It included lakes, earning her the nickname ‘Lady of the Lake’. 

Finding fame

Machli was known at the park for her dominating nature and powerful personality. She was also smart, sometimes taking advantage of the tourists’ vehicles to stalk and hunt. Over time, she became something of an ambassador for tiger conservation, playing a key part in documentaries, short films, journals, books and research papers. 

She appeared in a documentary called Tiger Queen, which aired on National Geographic and Animal Planet, as well as starring in the BBC’s Natural World. Machli was particularly famous for an incident in 2003 in which she fought and killed a 4.3-metre-long mugger crocodile. During the fight she lost two canine teeth. 

Machli became the most photographed tiger in the world, and between 1998 and 2009 her popularity helped the Indian government to earn nearly US$100 million. She won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" of Travel Operators For Tigers thanks to her contribution to conservation. In 2013, the Indian government issued a commemorative postal cover and stamp to honour her. 

Later life

As she aged, Machli began to lose territory and was eventually driven off her own turf by her daughter, Sundari. The tigress lost her teeth and became unable to hunt for food, being supported instead by park staff. After falling critically ill, Machli passed away on 18 August 2016, having reached the incredible age of 20. 

Catch a tiger this summer

If you love tiger stories, don’t miss the UK’s best tiger-themed family theatre show - The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Adapted from Judith Kerr’s picture book, it brings the tale to life with songs, dancing and clumsy chaos. Book your family theatre tickets today and see the show at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 14 July - 7 September 2025.