Tiger Directory

[Apollo]

Name             : Sita
Location        : Bhandavgarh National Park
Year of Birth : 1981
Ancestry       : Mate of Banka and Charger, Mother of Bara Bachha, Langru and many more.
Status            : RIP
Sex                 : Female
Species           : panthera tigris tigris
 
Sita tigress was one of the most photographed tigress in the world. She was the matriarch of Bandhavgarh. She had a life span of 17 years which is considered as longer than average age of tigers. In her lifespan she manage to raise 6 litters. She had two litters from Banka, the dominant male before Charger.Her third litter was from her mating with Charger in which she delivered two male cubs. In between them, one was larger in size and known by the name of Bara Bachha and second one had a slight limp in his hind leg and known by the name of Langru. Bara Bachha made his territory around Ghora Demon and Langru chose to stay with Charger & Sita. Here noticeable thing is that, Charger accepted his 4 year old lame son, denying the logic that dominant males drive away their own grownup male cubs.
 
In March month of 1994, Sita delivered her ill-fated fourth litter in which one cub was blind since birth and died after some time. Sita was so much distressed and disturbed by his death that for few days she wandered everywhere in search of her cub by calling her. During that period park authorities closed her area for tourists. Her another female cub later known by the name of Mohini as she was very good looking. Charger had habit of snatching the kills made by Sita but she never mind and always pleased to see Charger. In September 1996, Sita produced her fifth litter comprising one male and two females. In order to feed them properly, Sita often started trespassing in to other’s territory. She made kills in other’s domain and drag them into her territory.
 
In the year 1998, Sita was 17 years old which is considered as old-age of tigers, but she seems absolutely fit. Upto this age, she has produced 6 litters and seems fit to deliver 7th litter also. Parks was closed down in month of July for next 3 months. When month of October arrived in year 1998 and parks was ready for next safari season, tiger tracking geared up. During tracking nobody could trace Sita and a peculiar silence or depression was spread in atmosphere. No trace of beloved tigress Sita ignited huge controversies in media and pressure was mounted on Forest department to investigate the missing of Sita. Strange rumors began to spread about her dis-appearance like she was shot three times in Barua Nala and died behind the rest house in terrible agony. Some blamed it a handiwork of poachers spread in local villages. Local people and Forest Department was shocked with the disappearance of Sita.
 
After few months, police caught some poachers and recovered a tiger skin and bones from them. The enthusiastic officer and other policemen claimed that it was skin of Sita and called up many experts from Tala to verify the fact. They hung the skin in the verandah of Manpur Police Station for viewing and thousands of people from surrounding villages turned up to see it. Believing it to be Sita’s skin, they abused poachers and poured praises on policemen. But still suspicion remains prevailing as by having a look on a shrank and decayed skin and a pile of broken bones, it was impossible to trace the identity of died tiger. General perception of Sita’s death was that she has been poached. It is often said by guides and experts that it is very hard to trace the body of any cat family member died due to natural death.

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