An 11-year-old Royal Bengal tigress has set a record of sorts by begetting 22 cubs since 2008 in Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), thus becoming the cynosure of all eyes as tourists flock in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the majestic beast.

Forest experts say the tigress' popularity is akin to India's most famous feline 'Machli', of Rajasthan, who died last week.

"Royal Bengal Tigress T-15, popularly known as 'Collar Wali' (one with a collar), has given birth to 22 cubs in six separate litters since 2008. I have not heard of any tigress that has given birth to 22 cubs anywhere," Pench Tiger Reserve's field director Subharanjan Sen told PTI.

The tigress gave birth to five cubs in 2011 and reared all of them, he said. According to the last tiger count of 2014, the striped animal population in PTR, spread over Seoni and Chhindwara districts of MP, was between 35 and 49, he said. T-15 is known as 'Collar Wali' as she was the first tigress to be radio collared in PTR for tracking her movements, though her radio collar is defunct now, another forest official said.


A file picture of Collarwali. Pic courtesy: Tigernation.org