Avani, a famous tigress, on whom the Vidya Balan starrer Sherni is loosely based, lived in Tipeshwar with her two cubs, but had wandered away from the reserve forests. She became known as a man-eater, wandering near villages and farms and sadly, on November 2, 2018, a professional hunter shot her dead near Pandarkawada. Avani likely travelled from Tipeshwer wildlife sanctuary to Ralegaon and Pandarkawada, causing fear among locals. Her first attack was in 2016, and by August 2018, three more people were linked to her attacks. Authorities decided to kill her, leading to protests and legal battles. Some conservationists opposed the decision, while others supported it due to safety concerns. The hunt for Avani involved advanced techniques, including drones and sharpshooters on elephants. Asghar Ali Khan, the shooter, claimed he acted in self-defence when Avani charged at his team. Despite controversy, Avani's death remains a contentious issue, with activists fighting for justice in her name. Avani is remembered across Tipeshwar for her majesty and the cruel conflict between humans and wildlife, which caused the loss of both people and the magnificent tigress who ruled the forest.
This is a movie loosely based on the true story of Avani, a tigress whose journey from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary led to a tragic conflict between human safety and wildlife conservation.
The matriarch of Tipeshwar, who has birthed five litters, Taalaabwali dominates the ecosystem at Tipeshwar and is often found by the beautiful lake in the sanctuary – which is also the reason behind her name. At present, she roams her area with her older daughter Daisy, from her fourth litter, and her cubs from her fifth litter, which is an uncommon phenomenon among the species. Usually, a tigress prepares for and births another litter only when her existing cubs have moved away and with Daisy growing older, wildlife enthusiasts can prepare to see a power struggle between the two majestic creatures. Currently, Taalaabwali is dominating and powerful enough to even prevent intruding male tigers from entering her domain and she has only mated with Zanjir – making her the biggest attraction at Tipeshwar.
Taalaabwali’s daughter from her third litter, Archie is a tigress who is famous for her boldness and intelligence. Not only is she comfortable with a number of tourists, but she is also smart enough to save her cubs from getting attacked by predators. Currently, Archie has moved her cubs to another part of Tipeshwar, owing to the invasion of wild dogs into the sanctuary. She is also attracting the attention of T4, an intruding tiger who is keen on making her his mate. So far, she has managed to keep her cubs safe from the wild dogs, while also ensuring that the male tiger does not pose any harm to her litter. Tourists can look forward to witnessing her encounters with her cubs and T4, while on their visit to Tipeshwar.
The dominant male tiger in Tipeshwar, Zanjir is the patriarch who has been roaming the sanctuary in all his glory. However, given that he is now growing older, there is a possibility of the intruder, T4, posing a threat to his dominance in the region. This could lead to a power struggle between the two and offer tourists more insights into the lives and lifestyles of tigers in their natural habitats. While the arrival of T4 may be a threat to Zanjir, it is also a boon as it can lead to better bloodlines and an increase in the population of the tigers who call Tipeshwar their home.
