Collarwali (T-15): Tigress of Pench — Life, Cubs & Legacy
Quick Answer
Collarwali (T-15) was a tigress of Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh. Status: died 15 January 2022 of old age, aged about 16. She was born in September 2005, the eldest of four cubs of the tigress T-7, known as Badi Mada, and the male T-1, known as Charger. Twenty-nine cubs is one of the highest totals recorded for a wild tigress, and her sons went on to hold territory in Pench and the adjoining Maharashtra forests.
- Identifier
- T-15
- Sex
- Female
- Record period
- Born September 2005 · died 15 January 2022
- Status
- Died 15 January 2022 of old age, aged about 16
Highlights
- Pench Tiger Reserve records her as T-15.
- She was born in September 2005, the eldest of four cubs of the tigress T-7, known as Badi Mada, and the male T-1, known as Charger.
- Her first litter, born in May 2008, did not survive.
- Twenty-nine cubs is one of the highest totals recorded for a wild tigress, and her sons went on to hold territory in Pench and the adjoining Maharashtra forests.
Lead photos: Collarwali, as identified by the photographers on Wikimedia Commons. Other photos show Pench tigers.
Who Was Collarwali?
Pench Tiger Reserve records her as T-15. On 11 March 2008 she became the first tigress in Pench to be fitted with a radio collar, which gave her the name Collarwali, “the one with the collar”. Visitors also called her Mataram, the Queen of Pench and India’s “supermom”.
Tigers are recognised individually by their stripe patterns, which are as unique as fingerprints. Nicknames used by guides and visitors may differ from formal codes, so this page states which source each identifier comes from.
Collarwali: Timeline of Key Events
Dated events in Collarwali's life, from Pench Tiger Reserve statements and dated news reports.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2005 | Born in Pench, the eldest of four cubs of T-7 (Badi Mada) and T-1 (Charger). |
| 11 March 2008 | Becomes the first tigress radio-collared in Pench Tiger Reserve. |
| May 2008 | First litter; the cubs do not survive. |
| October 2008 | Litter of four cubs. |
| October 2010 | Litter of five cubs. |
| 14 January 2022 | Seen lying near Bhura Dev Nala; the reserve closes the road and monitors her. |
| 15 January 2022 | Dies of multiple organ failure linked to old age, aged about 16. |
| 16 January 2022 | Cremated inside the reserve. |
Collarwali's Family and Cubs
She was born in September 2005, the eldest of four cubs of the tigress T-7, known as Badi Mada, and the male T-1, known as Charger. Between 2008 and her last litter she gave birth to 29 cubs in eight litters, a total reported consistently at her death in January 2022. A survival figure of 25 cubs is widely repeated, but it comes from press reports rather than a published reserve record.
Relationships are described as verified only when an official or dated report supports them; otherwise they are labelled as reported.
Where Did Collarwali Live in Pench?
She is associated with the Karmajhiri side of the Madhya Pradesh core, where a cub of her last litter was later found, and she was seen near Bhura Dev Nala in her final days. This is a historical description, not live tracking.
Tiger territories shift with age, competition, breeding and water. A historical range is not present-day sighting advice, and Wild Excursions does not publish live locations.
Collarwali's Life Story
Her first litter, born in May 2008, did not survive. She raised four cubs from an October 2008 litter and five from an October 2010 litter, and kept breeding into her teens. On 14 January 2022 visitors saw her lying near Bhura Dev Nala for about two hours; the reserve closed the road and monitored her, and she died the next day. The post-mortem found her intestine blocked with hair and mud, leading to a rupture and multiple organ failure. She was cremated on 16 January 2022.
Why Collarwali Matters
Twenty-nine cubs is one of the highest totals recorded for a wild tigress, and her sons went on to hold territory in Pench and the adjoining Maharashtra forests. Her life became the clearest public story of Pench’s tiger recovery.
Individual stories build public support for conservation, but the reserve protects a population, its prey and connected habitat, not celebrity animals alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Collarwali's ID in Pench?
T-15. Pench Tiger Reserve records her as T-15.
Is Collarwali still alive?
Died 15 January 2022 of old age, aged about 16.
How many cubs did Collarwali have?
She was born in September 2005, the eldest of four cubs of the tigress T-7, known as Badi Mada, and the male T-1, known as Charger. Between 2008 and her last litter she gave birth to 29 cubs in eight litters, a total reported consistently at her death in January 2022. A survival figure of 25 cubs is widely repeated, but it comes from press reports rather than a published reserve record.
Where did Collarwali live in Pench?
She is associated with the Karmajhiri side of the Madhya Pradesh core, where a cub of her last litter was later found, and she was seen near Bhura Dev Nala in her final days. This is a historical description, not live tracking. This page does not publish live locations.
Can I see her descendants on a Pench safari?
Her family line still holds territory in Pench, but no individual tiger can be guaranteed. Routes are allocated by the forest department; book several drives for the best overall odds.
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Sources & References
Facts on wildlife and visitor access can change. These are the principal references for this page; always confirm current permits and rules with the responsible forest department.
Photo Credits
Photos without a credit below are by Wild Excursions. The rest come from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
- Collarwali, the most famous tigress of Pench, resting on a forest track with her radio collar — Saumitra Newalkar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Collarwali walking through dry teak forest in Pench Tiger Reserve — Nconnet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Close portrait of the Pench tigress Collarwali in forest light — Tanmay Haldar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tiger lying in a forest clearing in Pench — Drashokk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tigress walking across open ground in Karmajhiri, Pench — Fitindia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tall golden grassland of the Turia core zone in Pench — Shaswat Nimesh, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tiger resting behind tree trunks near Sillari gate, Pench Maharashtra — Gmg171083, CC BY-SA 4.0
See the tigers of Pench
Collarwali’s descendants still hold territory across Pench. Share your dates and we will plan drives on the side of the reserve with the best recent sightings.
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