Collarwalli or India’s ‘Super Mum’ tigress was an extraordinary feline. The ‘friendly’ predator, who breathed her last breathe on 15 January 2021, was one of the few tigers who have left a prolific legacy of her own. While the radio collar was a distinctive mark about her, what made her world-famous was the record that she held.
The Tale of Collarwalli’s Legacy
Born in 2005, Collarwalli was one of the few tigers who were radio-collared in 2008. Owing to that tag which got etched in the history of Indian wildlife, Collarwalli’s contribution to Panna’s tiger population is impressive. She gave birth to 29 cubs in 8 litters, of which 25 have been claimed to have survived. She also indirectly helped in the Panna re-introduction of the tigers’ project which was started in 2009.
Moreover, Collarwalli had a big contribution toward making the Pench Tiger Reserve become the best in the country for park management as well as a tourist-friendly spot for visitors and photographers. People were largely dragged to behold her majestic sight.
Collarwalli’s Last Breathe
The day prior to her death, Collarwalli was spotted in the open where she was noticed to be walking with difficulty. She had come to an open stream for drinking water and was spotted laying in the open without moving for an hour until she was taken in by forest officials and management for treatments and monitoring.
She was under the observation of veterinary doctors and was unable to walk. The exact cause of the death will be known after a post mortem but prima facie it appears to be due to multi-organ failure caused by old age.
Honed with Customary Rituals
Collarwalli was honed with a dignified funeral, where people from all across the nation poured down their tributes and respects for her. On 15 Jan, she was cremated at the hands of Shanta Bai, a local tribal leader who heads the Ecovikas Samiti and has played an important role in improving living conditions among tribals. The carcass was disposed of as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines and its viscera has been sent to laboratories for examination. The saga of Collarwalli stands as an instance and a positive reflection on the nature of the human-animal relationship. It is no surprise to bestow an animal with customary rituals and rites that have been long-held only for humans. Certainly, Collarwalli had a distinct impact and impression on human interaction. According to a wildlife official, she would come and lay in the open every time she was wounded or injured, awaiting help from humans who have been taking care of her for a long time.
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