Machli: The Queen of Ranthambore & Her Wild Legacy
Value of Life podcast by Puja Khushal by Puja Khushal
Episode notes
In this episode of Value of Life with Puja Khushal, host Puja Singh continues her powerful conversation with Balendu Singh, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Ranthambore National Park, as they explore the extraordinary life of India’s most iconic tigress — Machli (T-16).
Known as the “Queen of Ranthambore,” Machli became a global symbol of strength, intelligence, and resilience in the wild. This episode takes listeners deep into her life — her hunting style, territorial dominance, survival instincts, and the legacy she left behind.
The conversation also explores:
• Machli’s famous crocodile encounter • Her bloodline and its impact on Ranthambore’s tiger population • Bengal tiger behavior in the wild • How tigresses raise and train their cubs • Why Machli became the face of tiger conservation in India
Beyond her story, t ...