‘Supermom’ Tigress Collarwali Breathes Her Last At Pench Tiger Reserve In Madhya Pradesh

The tigress also identified as T15 had earned the tag of ‘supermom’ as she had given birth to 29 cubs

New Delhi: Pench Tiger Reserve’s “supermom” tigress, Collarwali passed away on Sunday due to old age. The tigress also identified as T15 had earned the tag of ‘supermom’ as she had given birth to 29 cubs, said the officials.  

An official from the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) confirmed the death of the tigress to PTI without sharing any other information. 

A press release by Pench Tiger Reserve said that the tigress died at around 6.15 pm on Saturday at the Karmajhiri range of the reserve. Her carcass was disposed of as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and its viscera was sent to laboratories for examination, the release added.

Collarwali had given birth to 29 cubs in eight litter spanning 11 years, between 2008 and 2018, officials said. Out of the 29 cubs, 25 survived. The tigress, who looked pale due to old age was last spotted on January 14 by the PTR visitors

The female cub who was radio-collared in March 2008 was again radio-collared in January 2010, and that is how she got her name, ‘Collarwali’ or T15 tigress, the officials said. 

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Collarwali’s first litter was in May 2008 when she gave birth to three cubs, but unfortunately, they were not able to survive. Her last litter was in 2018 delivering four cubs which took the total number of her cubs to 29. The officials assume that this number could be a record. 

She was born as one of the four cubs to the famous T-7 tigress in September 2005. 

According to experts, the average lifespan of a tiger is about 12 years.

Tributes for the supermom have been pouring in from different quarters. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted, “Tribute to the 'Super Tigress Mom' Collarwali of @PenchMP, the pride of Madhya Pradesh and mother to 29 cubs, who played an important role in achieving the Tiger State status for MP. The forests of Madhya Pradesh will always resonate with the roar of the cubs of the 'Queen' of Pench Tiger Reserve.”

“Legendary among legends. Collarwali is the famous tigress who holds the record of giving birth to 29 cubs. She is no more now. But left her species in good health,” tweeted IFS officer Parveen Kaswan. “Collarwali is also one of the most photographed tigresses in the world,” he added.