Chota Matka (T-126): Tiger of Tadoba — Life, Lineage & Status
Quick Answer
Chota Matka (T-126) is a male tiger of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Status: in permanent care after 2025 injuries; will not return to the wild. He held the Navegaon side and the Khadsangi buffer; he was tranquillised in compartment 51 of the Khadsangi range. On 12–13 May 2025 he killed the rival male T-158 (Brahma) in a territorial fight but was badly hurt.
- Identifier
- T-126
- Sex
- Male
- Record period
- Dominant male c. 2022–2025
- Current status
- In permanent care after 2025 injuries; will not return to the wild
Highlights
- A PTI report of 28 August 2025 identifies Chhota Matka as T-126, the number also used in visitor material.
- The Hitavada (October 2025) describes him as a descendant of the male Matkasur and the tigress Chhoti Tara.
- He held the Navegaon side and the Khadsangi buffer; he was tranquillised in compartment 51 of the Khadsangi range.
- His rise and fall show how quickly a territory changes hands, and how injury, conflict risk and court oversight now shape decisions about individual tigers.
No freely licensed, verified photograph of Chota Matka is available, so the photos on this page show other Tadoba tigers.
Who Is Chota Matka?
A PTI report of 28 August 2025 identifies Chhota Matka as T-126, the number also used in visitor material.
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.
Chota Matka: Timeline of Key Events
Dated events in Chota Matka's life, from official reserve publications and dated news reports.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 2022–2025 | Holds the Navegaon side and surrounding buffer. |
| 12–13 May 2025 | Kills the rival male T-158 (Brahma) but is severely injured. |
| 27 August 2025 | Tranquillised in the Khadsangi range and moved to the Transit Treatment Centre, Chandrapur. |
| Aug–Sep 2025 | Bombay High Court (Nagpur bench) takes up his care in a suo motu PIL; the reserve says release to the wild is unlikely. |
Chota Matka's Family and Cubs
The Hitavada (October 2025) describes him as a descendant of the male Matkasur and the tigress Chhoti Tara. This is a press attribution, not a published monitoring record.
Relationships are described as verified only when an official record supports them; otherwise they are labelled as attributed.
Where Did Chota Matka Live in Tadoba?
He held the Navegaon side and the Khadsangi buffer; he was tranquillised in compartment 51 of the Khadsangi range. No live location is published here.
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.
Chota Matka's Life Story
On 12–13 May 2025 he killed the rival male T-158 (Brahma) in a territorial fight but was badly hurt. On 27 August 2025 a Rapid Response Team tranquillised him under NTCA procedure and moved him to the Transit Treatment Centre in Chandrapur; the Bombay High Court (Nagpur bench) took up his care in a suo motu PIL, and the reserve has said his release to the wild is unlikely. Some reports place him at the Gorewada Rescue Centre, Nagpur.
Is Chota Matka Alive? Current Status
Status: In permanent care after 2025 injuries; will not return to the wild. This wording changes only when an official or otherwise authoritative dated record supports it.
Useful evidence includes forest-department statements, camera-trap identity records, post-mortem or rescue reports and dated, credited photographs.
Why Chota Matka Matters
His rise and fall show how quickly a territory changes hands, and how injury, conflict risk and court oversight now shape decisions about individual tigers.
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 is Chota Matka's ID in Tadoba?
T-126. A PTI report of 28 August 2025 identifies Chhota Matka as T-126, the number also used in visitor material.
Is Chota Matka still alive?
In permanent care after 2025 injuries; will not return to the wild.
Where was Chota Matka seen in Tadoba?
He held the Navegaon side and the Khadsangi buffer; he was tranquillised in compartment 51 of the Khadsangi range. No live location is published here. This page does not publish live locations.
Who are Chota Matka's parents or cubs?
The Hitavada (October 2025) describes him as a descendant of the male Matkasur and the tigress Chhoti Tara. This is a press attribution, not a published monitoring record.
Can I see Chota Matka on a Tadoba safari?
No individual tiger can be guaranteed on a safari. Routes are allocated by the forest department and tigers move freely; book drives across zones 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.
- Tadoba Diaries — official books and magazines ↗
- ThePrint / PTI — Injured tiger Chhota Matka rescued (Aug 2025) ↗
- Navbharat Live — T-126 rescued after fight with T-158 (Hindi) ↗
- The Hitavada — Tadoba’s Fallen King: The Saga of Chhota Matka (Oct 2025) ↗
- The Hitavada — HC asks amicus to visit Chhota Matka at treatment centre (Sep 2025) ↗
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve — research publications ↗
Photo Credits
Photos without a credit below are by Wild Excursions. The rest come from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown.
- Tiger almost hidden in tall golden grass in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve — Eeshan Sonak, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bengal tigress with her cub at the edge of tall grass in Tadoba — Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Young Bengal tigress playing with her sibling in Tadoba — AJAY CHANDWANI, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Radio-collared tigress cooling off in water in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve — PR Ganapathy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tigress Maya and her three cubs near Telia lake, Tadoba — Parag.naik, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wide view of the largest lake in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve under a clear sky — Aashay25, CC BY-SA 4.0
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