Tourists at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve witnessed a rare and intense wildlife moment on Tuesday morning when the famous tigress Riddhi (T-124) and her daughter Meera engaged in a fierce territorial fight in Zone 3 of the national park. The dramatic encounter unfolded before stunned visitors during a jungle safari and has since gone viral on social media. According to eyewitnesses, the two tigresses were first seen close to each other near Padam Lake. Moments later, Meera challenged her mother in an attempt to claim part of the territory. What began as a silent standoff soon turned into a violent confrontation. The air was filled with loud roars that echoed across the jungle as the mother and daughter clashed. The fight lasted for nearly two minutes before Riddhi overpowered her daughter, forcing Meera to retreat deep into the forest.
Both tigresses sustained injuries during the encounter. Forest officials later confirmed that it was a natural territorial fight, explaining that such behaviour is common as cubs mature and begin seeking space of their own. Wildlife experts added that in the wild, a cub’s first territorial challenge often involves its mother. Riddhi is a seven-year-old tigress belonging to the fifth generation of the legendary Machali lineage – one of the most dominant bloodlines in Ranthambore’s history. She is the daughter of Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) and the granddaughter of Krishna. Riddhi is known for her strong presence and control over the heart of the park, including the areas around Padam Talao, Raj-Bag, Malik Talao, and Mandoob in Zones 3 and 4. These regions have long been ruled by powerful tigresses – Machali, Sundari, Krishna, Arrowhead, and now Riddhi – each marking a chapter in Ranthambore’s royal tiger heritage.
Meera, Riddhi’s daughter, has recently reached adulthood and is now attempting to establish her own domain within the same landscape. The clash between mother and daughter signifies a key phase in this natural process of dispersal and independence. Forest authorities reassured visitors that both tigresses are under observation and their injuries are not life-threatening. They also emphasised that such fights, while dramatic to witness, are a vital part of maintaining balance in tiger populations.
This is not the first territorial conflict recorded in Ranthambore National Park this year. Earlier, a male tiger identified as T-2309 was killed in a fight with another dominant male, T-120 (Ganesh), in the Ama Ghati forest area. Such incidents highlight the fierce competition for territory within the park, where each tiger strives to secure hunting grounds and mating rights. Riddhi’s family lineage remains deeply significant to Ranthambore’s conservation story. Her mother, Arrowhead, passed away in June 2023 at the age of 14 after battling bone cancer. Arrowhead herself was one of the most photographed tigresses in the reserve, carrying forward the legacy of Machali, who once ruled these lakeside zones.
For wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, the recent clash between Riddhi and Meera is not merely an act of aggression – it is a glimpse into the untamed rhythm of the wild, where every roar, chase, and conflict reflects nature’s eternal law of survival and succession.
