Tigers are solitary animals, but they have a social life that they maintain through chemical and auditory communication in the jungle. They are apex predators and exhibit behaviors that reflect the traits of some tigers, which many people believe are typical of their species.
Yet anyone who has spent years in India’s tiger forests knows that every tiger has a unique personality and behavior, some of which are famous. Some tigers are fearless, some are great parents, and some are great hunters, while others are so unusual that they become legends. These stories tell us that our learning about tigers, their role, ecology, and behavior is still incomplete. In this blog, I share the unique behavior of some famous tigers, even though every tiger is different.
Charger in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
Charger was one of the most famous tigers of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. He earned his name because he often charged safari vehicles and elephants. Although these were mock charges, many tourists unfamiliar with his behavior were frightened and screamed in fear. Some even cancelled their safaris or cut them short after seeing him run toward tourist jeeps and park elephants carrying tourists.
Such behavior was very unusual because tigers generally consider tourist vehicles to be animals that are bigger in size and can go faster than they can. Running towards an elephant is also not normal behavior for tigers. In the jungle, tigers and elephants avoid each other, and elephants have killed tigers on several occasions when they attempted to hunt a calf.
During my time in Rajaji National Park, where I was undergoing training for field data collection for the tiger monitoring project, I witnessed an incident in which a tigress was killed by an elephant while she was pursuing a calf. A similar incident occurred in Katerniaghat, where a tiger attempted to kill a calf, leading to a confrontation with the mother; although the tiger survived, he never tried to attack an elephant again.
Despite his unusual behavior, Charger became very famous among wildlife photographers and tiger lovers because he raised several litters with Sita, the most famous tigress of Bandhavgarh, and was featured on the cover of National Geographic. He was highly tolerant of his cubs, even helping to raise a physically handicapped cub, a rare and unique behavior for wild tigers.
T-25 or Zaalim of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
T-25 was known for one of the most unique behavioral traits, rarely seen in big cats. Though Zaalim, which means ‘cruel,’ was named after his aggressive territorial behavior, which included occasional charges at tourist vehicles, he also had a soft side. He took care of two orphaned female cubs of a tigress named T-5 in 2011, which died from an infection. Male tigers are generally considered a danger to the cubs and are known for not taking part in parental care, but T-25 showed a fatherly instinct and not only has taken care of these two cubs but also taught them how to hunt.
When the mother of these two cubs died, the forest department became concerned about their welfare and planned to rescue them and place them in a rescue center; however, Zaalim then entered the scene and began taking care of the cubs, protecting them and sharing his kills with them. Later, when these two cubs became subadults, they were sent to Sariska under the tiger reintroduction program in 2013, where they were renamed ST-9 and ST-10.
Machli (T-16) of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Machli of Ranthambore, the most famous tigress in the world, is known for killing crocodiles. Machli was also known as the “Lady of the Lakes” and the “Queen of Ranthambore.” She was the world’s most photographed tigress and one of the longest-living tigresses, from 1996 to 2016. She was named Machli (Fish) because of a distinct facial mark that resembles a fish.
In the year 2003 she got famous worldwide when she fought and killed a 14-foot-long mugger crocodile in a fierce battle. Though she lost two canines in the process, she was still a very successful hunter. The photograph of her killing a crocodile was circulated worldwide and published in every wildlife magazine of the world. She successfully raised 11 cubs; today over 60% of the tigers in the Ranthambore tiger reserve trace their lineage back to her.
According to an estimate, her fame generated $100 million in tourism revenue for the park, making her an international celebrity.
Machli is known for another unique behavior: unlike other tigers who stay away from the tourist vehicles, she comes close, walking in between to stalk prey.
Pujari of Bandhavgarh
Pujari, the tiger, was one of the most iconic and beloved tigers in the Khitauli zone of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. He was known for his massive frame and calm nature. He got his name from his ritualistic habit of taking a dip in a waterhole before beginning his daily routine.
In Hindi, ‘pujari’ means ‘priest,’ and pujaris share a similar habit of taking a bath before starting their daily routines. Though tigers love water and prefer to stay inside the waterhole for long periods during the hot summer months, bathing before their daily forest strolls is something unique to Pujari tigers. Unfortunately, he died in a territorial fight in May 2026 at the young age of only 9-10 years.
The “Mausi” (Aunt) of Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve
Another case of alloparenting was reported from the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve. Alloparenting is a term used for parental care given by another member of society apart from the real parents. This behavior is more often observed in highly social animals like monkeys and elephants. Alloparenting is often observed in solitary animals, but it occurs only on rare occasions. Solitary animals often exhibit alloparenting, but tigers and other solitary species occasionally display this behavior. in tigers and other solitary animals. The example given above of Zaalim in Ranthambore is one of its kind.
Another example of similar behavior has been reported from Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve, where a related female has taken care of her deceased sister’s cubs. In 2023, a resident tigress T-18 passed away, leaving behind three helpless young cubs.
A tigress named T-28 was raising her own litter at that time; she is the sister of T-18. She did not show aggression towards the orphaned cubs, but she immediately adopted them. The forest department personnel started calling her Mausi (aunt). She raised all six cubs together as a single-family unit. It was observed by the forest department and researcher that she allowed her adopted cubs first to eat from the kill she made and gave them precedence during hunting training to ensure their survival.
This is one of the most unique aspects of tiger behavior and helps us understand their complex social life despite living solitary.
The Gap in Understanding Tigers
As wildlife researchers, we primarily focus on the ecological role and needs of tigers, often neglecting their behavior, which is crucial for understanding both their ecological role and the overall health of their ecosystems. A tiger is not just a tiger in the jungle; each one is unique with his own personality. Observing the behavior of tigers in the wild will help us make better management decisions.
“A tiger is not just a tiger; each one is unique. Like us humans, each individual tiger has its own temperament and behavioral traits. Some are fearless, some cautious, some methodical, some are caring, and some are surprisingly tolerant. These personalities are governed by genetics, experience, habitat, and learning, making every tiger a story of individuality rather than just stripes.”
Mr. Vibhav Srivastava is a trained wildlife expert and ecotourism specialist. He has more than 20 years of experience in wildlife research, forest management, conservation education, and sustainable tourism in India.
He works at Tiger Safari India, where he plans exciting wildlife tours, helps spread conservation messages, and creates simple educational programs.
He has worked in all major wildlife areas across Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern India. His key work includes tiger monitoring across the country with the Wildlife Institute of India, community conservation projects, and training forest staff and nature guides.
He has worked with many groups like RARE India, New Delhi Zoo, Le Passage to India, and Tiger Protection Group. He also served as Chief Naturalist at Kanha National Park.
He is a good teacher and speaker. He has given more than 30 talks at top universities like Delhi University, BHU, Amity University, and IITTM on wildlife protection, ecotourism, and sustainability.
He has written books and scientific papers, and has spoken at national conferences. His focus is always on connecting real science with local communities and responsible tourism.
He has a Master’s degree in Botany and special training from the Wildlife Institute of India. He was also chosen as one of the top five naturalists in India for the TOFT Best Naturalist Award.
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