T -106 (aka MT-2)- The Tigress Who Won Hearts, and Lovers

Those who are fascinated by tales of tigers and tigresses revolving around bravery, chivalry and romance, of tigers and tigresses, will be quite familiar with the tigress MT-2. After all, this is the same tigress for whom T-98 aka MT-3, walked 150 kilometers across three districts. However, that their coming together wasn’t meant to be is quite another story.

The tigress, who is now dead, will also be remembered for being the first tigress who littered two cubs after being shifted to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve from Ranthambore National Park. Tigress MT-2 was famously known as T-106 in Ranthambore National Park, but was renamed MT-2 after being relocated to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.

Tigress MT-2, is shifted to Mukundra from Ranthambore

Tigress MT-2 was the daughter of tigress T-39 (Noor) and sister of tigress T-107 (Sultana). Tigress T-106 was shifted from Ranthambore National Park, a famous wildlife destination in India, to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR), in 2018, where she was renamed MT-2. What made the event special was the fact that the tigress gave birth to two cubs soon after being transferred to her new habitat. 

The cubs were first spotted by DFO T Mohan Raj, while patrolling in the Darrah range of the tiger reserve. The event was celebrated as a successful example of a third tiger reintroduction program in India, and received acclaim from wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists and Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

A love story with a sad ending

Tigress MT-2 first inhabited Ranthambore National Park, sharing the same area with T-98, or MT-3. After a while, the tigress, along with one other tiger, MT-1, was relocated to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, leaving the tiger T-98 quite irritated, fierce and hostile.

It wasn’t long before T-98 undertook a journey of epic proportions, to get back together with MT-2, the tigress whom he loved. He undertook a journey of 150 kilometers, crossing three districts and a river named Kali Sindh. Everybody was surprised, since it was the first time somebody has heard or seen something like this.

Unfortunately, it was a little too late when T-98 reached his mate. MT-2 had by then mated with MT-1, and produced two cubs. T-98 was helpless and could do nothing about it, but this is a story that will be told among wildlife lovers for a long time to come.

Tigress MT-2 found dead, leaving everyone shocked

The death of Tigress MT-2, which occurred just a few days after T-98, has left everyone shocked, perplexed and angry. The Rajasthan Forest Department found the body of the dead tigress in a decomposed state in the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. Questions are now being raised about the safety and effectiveness of the third tiger reintroduction program in the country.

According to the autopsy or post-mortem, the tigress died due to a territorial fight, as it had multiple wounds on its body. The deaths of two tigers in such a small span of time has raised questions on the lackadaisical approach of the forest department in the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.

Picture Credit: Google Images