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Few tigers have reached the celebrity status of Ranthambore’s former queen, Machhli. Even years after her death, the crocodile-fighting superstar’s extended family continues to rule the national park, and one man has borne witness to the drama and intrigue, love and heartbreak for almost two decades.

Batti Lal Gurjar shares his extraordinary life story and images in this captivating volume that captures the hardships of growing up in the wilds of Rajasthan, human-animal conflict and the majesty of the Royal Bengal Tiger. His riveting stories have enough drama to do a soap opera proud. The escapades of Machhli, Sundari, Zalim and the rest of the tribe are heartwarming and devastating in equal measure. As a proud custodian of the tigers and their habitat, Batti Lal’s account and images reveal a profound humanity and fragility of the everchanging Ranthambore National Park and her precious inhabitants.

This book is also a timely reminder of how the knowledge of local populations is critical to save both the forests and all their inhabitants, at a time when our natural resources are increasingly under threat.