u/asmivkash

The crisp winter morning in legendary Chhota Matka’s teak forests kingdom began with the fresh pugmarks of a leopard. Half an hour later, our hearts skipped a beat: massive, fresh tiger pug marks sliced across our path. Rumours whispered that the prince ,Kalua, was courting a queen Chanda nearby. Adrenaline spiked; we locked in and followed the trail.

The air grew heavy with warnings. Forest laborers shouted that Kalua—infamous for chasing down two-wheelers—was close. Further up, shaken workers showed us a water can fresh shredded by claws. I had watched Kalua grow from a vulnerable cub into a massive, handsome prince, and the anticipation of our reunion boiled over.

Suddenly, the brush parted. Two magnificent tigers stepped onto the safari track just meters ahead, striding side-by-side toward our lone gypsy.

The forest had deceived us. These were not the tracks of lovers, but of brothers. Walking confidently beside Kalua was his younger sibling, Balya—born to Babli and sired by the legendary CM. Kalua towered over his brother with regal composure. As more jeeps arrived, the shy Balya slipped quietly back into the emerald shadows, but Kalua claimed the stage, walking the track for nearly an hour or more in a masterclass of royal indifference.

Months later, the brotherhood fractured as both left their father's domain to carve out their own destinies. Balya vanished into the silent, untracked wilderness, his whereabouts a mystery. Yet our prince Kalua conquered the territorial forests of the Bramhapuri range. Today, he rules a growing kingdom, having already sired four cubs with the queen Janhavi, alongside the heirs of a few other secret queens of the forest.

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In the heart of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), where dust and sunlight mingle, certain names are etched in gold. While some rulers claimed the spotlight with fierce defiance, Queen Chhoti Tara (T-7) chose a different path to immortality. Born around 2010–2011 to the original matriarch Tara and the formidable male Yedaanna, she was part of the legendary "Circuit Gang" litter of four. From the very beginning, her destiny was intertwined with the history of the jungle.

Chhoti Tara was a pioneer. She holds the historic distinction of being the first tigress in Tadoba to wear a radio collar, serving as a vital ambassador for science and conservation under the Wildlife Institute of India.

Yet, her true magic lay in her temperament. Unlike her fiercely territorial and highly photographed neighbor, Maya, Chhoti Tara ruled with an ethereal, serene grace. Forest guides often described her as a "cow in the form of a tigress"—a testament to her exceptionally calm, composed, and cautious demeanor. While other tigers flashed canines at the rumble of diesel engines, Chhoti Tara would glance casually, completely unfazed by the awe-struck tourists in safari gypsies. She possessed the quiet confidence of true royalty.

Her greatest legacy, however, is the vibrant future she secured for wild India. She was a phenomenal mother, gifting the wilderness icons like Chhota Matka, Mama, Roma, and Bijli. In a historic triumph for conservation, her daughter Tara was chosen for 'Project Tara', relocating to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve to revive its fading tiger population. Through her bloodline, Chhoti Tara’s spirit now roams new forests.

While other parks openly celebrate their aging icons, TATR’s silent queen slipped away without fanfare. She spent her final years fighting the harsh realities of old age, braving immense struggles to successfully raise her final litter. She left just as she lived—silently, gracefully, and with absolute dignity.

The safari vehicles may no longer cross her path, but the forests of Tadoba will forever whisper the name of the gentle queen. Thank you, Chhoti Tara. Your legacy runs wild forever.

Everyone knows about Collarwali aka Mataram from Pench for her immense contribution to the park population. Tadoba has its own Collarwali who is also on similar mission but not only for Tadoba. Her 2 offsprings are translocated to another parks. First one is Zeenat in Similipal Odisha who is recently in news for her first litter of 4 sired by melanistic black tiger from Similipal and another one is Mona translocated to Dhyanganga tiger reserve in Maharashtra as a mate to Dhurandhar an orphaned cub rewilded and granted second chance in wild. Her bloodline is thriving in Tadoba as well in the form of bold and beautiful new mother Kajri and 4G male.

Collarwali herself carries great lineage she is daughter of Lara , one of the famous 4 Telia sisters sired by big daddy of Tadoba Bajarang. She rules one of the prime territory of TATR which she snatched from her aunt and her mother's rival most ferocious Sonam. The battle of Telia's throne was continued for months which is generally very rare in wild. Both the queen's fought tooth and nail for the kingdom. I was lucky to witness one of that battles.