Maya 🐅 – The Queen of Tadoba passes away… Om Shanti! 🙏🏻

The population of tigers in India has nearly tripled from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022. It is one of the world’s most successful wildlife conservation & regeneration efforts.

One of the key protagonists of this success story was Maya – the Queen of Tadoba – one of India’s largest Tiger reserves.

With 5 litters in 8 yrs from 2014 to 2022, Maya (T-12 for Tadoba forest officials) has been one of the main regenerators of the Tiger population of Tadoba.

Maya had not been sighted since August and recently a tiger skeleton has been found which was of Maya. She has been declared as having unfortunately passed away. She is expected to have died of age and natural causes. 😥

Om Shanti! 🙏🏻

2015 was when we met Maya. She approached our convoy from the left. Confidently & fearlessly walking towards us. Crossed the path between Gypsy no 1 and Gypsy No 2 from the convoy (we were in Gypsy No 1) and walked alongside the road for a good kilometre or so… Alongside us on the right. It was almost like she was posing, for us ‘simps’ / ‘stupid humans’ to bask in her glory!!! 🐯😌🐯

Here are some glimpses from that ‘meeting’ 🙂