In January 2022, forest officials in Madhya Pradesh confirmed the death of Collarwali, a tigress from Pench Tiger Reserve who became a symbol of India’s conservation success.
Known officially as T15, she lived around 16 years and gave birth to 29 cubs across eight litters — an extraordinary number. Many of her cubs survived and established territories of their own, helping rebuild the region’s tiger population.
Her cremation wasn’t just symbolic. At a time when tiger numbers had once plummeted due to poaching and habitat loss, Collarwali represented real recovery.
She wasn’t a mascot — she was living proof that conservation works.
In January 2022, forest officials in Madhya Pradesh confirmed the death of Collarwali, a tigress from Pench Tiger Reserve who became a symbol of India’s conservation success.
Known officially as T15, she lived around 16 years and gave birth to 29 cubs across eight litters — an extraordinary number. Many of her cubs survived and established territories of their own, helping rebuild the region’s tiger population.
Her cremation wasn’t just symbolic. At a time when tiger numbers had once plummeted due to poaching and habitat loss, Collarwali represented real recovery.
She wasn’t a mascot — she was living proof that conservation works.