Ranthambore tiger – Dollar – who displayed fatherly instinct for orphan cubs dies

Jaipur: A popular tiger of Ranthambore National Park – T-25 – was found dead on Monday.

The tiger – popularly known as Dollar among wildlife lovers – was 15-year-old and it is believed that he died of old age. His body was found near Sanwata Village in Khandar range of the park. The news of T-25’s death saddened the wildlife lovers.

The tiger had hogged headlines when the wildlife conservationists spotted him taking care of two orphan cubs. T-25 raised the two cubs and protected them from predators of the forest, leaving wildlife experts surprised.

T-25 was also the dominant male tiger in the park in the prime of his youth.

A senior park official said that T-25 was aged over 15 years. He was not having food and grew weak over the past few weeks. He died of natural causes.

“We have launched an investigation into what caused the death, but prima-facie, we are ruling out any foul play,” said the officer.

Senior forest department and park officials rushed to the spot after they received the information about the tiger’s body lying in Khardar range.

The officer said that the tiger was very popular among wildlife lovers not only in India, but overseas also. He used to enthral park visitors.

“We would miss T-25. His body will be cremated tomorrow,” said the officer.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted that T-25 was a magnanimous tiger who took care of two orphan cubs displaying fatherly instincts in raising and protecting them to the surprise of conservationists.

“T-25 will be missed”, Gehlot tweeted.