Mumbai’s Beloved Tigress Bijalee Dies at 18, Sanjay Gandhi National Park Shares Video From Her Final Days
Tigress Bijalee (T2), who had been housed at Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park since 2016, died at around 9:45 pm on September 16 at approximately 18 years and four months of age. SGNP said her food intake had declined since last month and she had received veterinary and supportive care. Officials believe age-related issues caused her death, while a post-mortem will establish the exact cause.
Tigress Bijalee (T2), who had been under the care of Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) since 2016, died at around 9:45 pm on Wednesday, September 16, at the age of approximately 18 years and four months. The park administration said she had been suffering from age-related health issues and had been receiving veterinary and supportive care.
Bijalee had shown a gradual decline in food intake since last month, prompting the SGNP veterinary team to closely monitor her health. Despite continued treatment and monitoring, the tigress died on Wednesday night, officials said. Odisha: Pseudo-Melanistic Tigress Found Dead in Core Area of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Cause of Death Awaited.
Tigress Bijalee Dies at 18
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Tigress Bijalee Had Been At SGNP Since 2016
Bijalee was brought to Sanjay Gandhi National Park from Pench Tiger Reserve on July 11, 2016. During her years at SGNP, she became a familiar presence for visitors as well as the park’s veterinary and animal-care teams. Her association with the park lasted for more than a decade, according to the administration. Over the years, she was also part of the park’s wildlife management, conservation education and captive animal-care efforts. ‘Langdi’ Dies: Tigress T-20 Passes Away in Karmajhiri Range Due to Old Age, Was Last Sighted Just 2 Days Ago.
Health Declined Over The Past Month
The park administration said a gradual decline in Bijalee's food intake had been observed since last month. Following the change in her health, the veterinary team monitored her condition closely. She was provided medical and supportive care under the guidance and technical advice of the Technical Veterinary Advisory Team of Western Maharashtra. Despite continued treatment, supportive care and monitoring, Bijalee died on Wednesday night.
The SGNP administration has attributed Bijalee’s death to age-related health complications. However, officials said a standard post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death. The post-mortem will provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding her death beyond the preliminary assessment that it was linked to old age.
Following her death, the SGNP administration appealed to wildlife enthusiasts and visitors who had seen or photographed Bijalee during her years at the park. The administration has invited people to share their memories and photographs of the tigress on social media as a tribute. Bijalee’s death marks the end of her long association with SGNP, where she had remained under the care of the park since 2016.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2026 03:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
