Sohini
Sohini, a 23-year-old tigress at the Jharkhali Tiger Rehabilitation Centre in the Sundarbans, has died of old-age complications. Forest officials said she grew lethargic on Wednesday afternoon before being rushed for treatment, but doctors declared her dead. Her long-time companion, Sohan, had already died months earlier.
Authorities describe Sohini as a tigress “rescued” from the wild, but that word is more about protecting reputations than truth. Such language prevents backlash from local communities and hides the fact that tigers are often removed to ease human fears, not to help the animals. For Sohini, it meant a life in captivity.
She lived far longer than most Royal Bengal tigers, whose average lifespan is 15–16 years. Staff say that is proof of their dedication. But longevity in a cage is no triumph. With Sohini’s death, only two tigers remain at Jharkhali—Sundar and another transferred from Alipore zoo. Her story shows again how “rehabilitation centres” become holding pens, not sanctuaries where tigers can be healed, recover before getting released back into the wild again — a reality echoing the wider cruelty of zoos and captivity.
The Sohini article:
Based on News Arena India, India.
Photo via News Arena India.
