The tiger known as Broken Tail was born in Ranthambhore National Park in northern India, a vast, natural reserve for a wide variety of Indian wildlife, but especially famous for its Bengal tigers. Historically revered in Indian tradition, tigers in the area were once protected by maharajahs, and then by government sanctuaries and conservation projects. But poachers have proven to be nearly unstoppable over the years, and tigers have struggled to survive, even with the protection of the park. At one point, there were as few as 26 tigers left in the reserve, and today, the fate of each and every tiger is important to the species as a whole.
Conservation efforts have been intensified in the face of the crisis, and the struggle continues. Broken Tail: A Tiger’s Last Journey is the story of the life and death of a tiger destined for greatness, who may still lead the way to a better future for those of his kind.
From the beginning, wildlife filmmaker Colin Stafford-Johnson could tell Broken Tail was special. Curious, exuberant, and charismatic, Broken Tail wasn’t afraid of anything. Stafford-Johnson and local guide, Salim Ali, spent over 600 days following and filming Broken Tail and his family. Then, one day, Broken Tail simply disappeared. A year later, Johnson and Ali heard news that Broken Tail was killed by a train in Darra, 100 miles away from Ranthambhore. This discovery raised new questions. How did Broken Tail travel so far away from home? Why did he leave in the first place?
Stafford-Johnson and Ali set off on horseback, tracing Broken Tail’s last journey, looking for answers. Talking to poachers and interviewing eyewitnesses, the duo travel across India, learning some surprising facts from this remarkable tiger’s passage, and hoping they will help in the conservation of this endangered species.
This story, which I saw on Jan. 18, 2012, reminds me of the one currently going on here in the West. A male grey wolf, OR-7 or Journey, left his “pack” (four other animals in NE Oregon) in December 2011, I think, apparently in search of others, particularly female. The difference between him and Broken Tail is that he is fitted with a GPS which gives his position continuously. By the readings from this collar, the scientists involved in this project have been able to track him over some 800 miles thus far! I am amazed at the reaction to this single predator: in Northern California there was actually a meeting with the Department of Fish and Game and the public (concerned ranchers, environmentalists, etc) to make up a strategy on how to deal with these predators — although there are none, only this transient representative. Knowing the mentality of people, I will not be surprised to learn that he will be shot before he finds other wolves. As I write, OR-7 is probably in Nevada.
These animals are beautiful and so dignified in their world. Man comes out so much less… At least, by being captured on film by Colin Stafford-Johnson, Broken Tail will live far beyond the realm of the normal tiger.
I don’t understand… If the people of India have such a high regard for wildlife and preservation (as the program indicates), how would they have ever allowed the tigers to be killed in the first place?
Habitat, conservation, education are key. Learn, make contact, help conservation worldwide. I hunt; hunters are more conservation involved than most. Broken Tail motivates me to learn about tigers, India’s habitat, conservation challenges. Long live hunters in the wild, long live wild places, creatures. Invest in habitat, research, and local solutions. 7 billion is enough of us. Make contact with nature; leave no child inside.
Being one of the many moved by this extraordinary Tiger and program, I would like to contribute to the saving of the habitat to help the plight of this magnificent animal. How can I help? Is Collin Stafford-Johnson directly involved in this movement for contact or is there another way to make contact?
I was awestruck by Nature’s presentation of Broken Tail. As Gail commented, “I would just like to thank Colin Stafford-Johnson and Salim Ali, for their tireless work to track down and find out what happened to the tiger Broken Tail in his last days prior to his death. Even more than Broken Tail was the incredible ways and customs captured by Colin. The “dance of life” (fight) between the mother tigress and the male… the suckling practice of the ingenue cubs. And the most reverend capture of the images and way of life of our tigers by Colin… I love and admire the way he captured the language of tigers through their expressive eyes, their body language and gesture… in the Indian way of thought and action, Colin conjured the “mudra” concept… the highest, and most prayerful gestures and gestation of aware and spiritual beings…. and we thought human beings were at the top of the food chani!!! Thank you Colin… Thank you PBS! You are a BIG reason why I have become who I am. Love and Shantih. Pritha
Just saw Broken Tail. Everyone that knows me knows my love of tigers. I even have one tattooed on me. This entire episode made me cry. Especially the part where the famous people used to come out and kill them and then it showed the shrine with all the stuffed tigers. I cried like you wouldnt believe. I think it was a very beautifully done video. Thank you for doing it !
Dear Colin,
Thank you so very much for your amazing film-making and geniune heart-felt compassion for Broken-Tail and his kind. That said, it was devastatingly sad to the core that, to your point, we have so many resources for so many things, and we are all just watching by while this great animal diminishes before our very eyes. Your work has been invaluable to bring this to light once again. Those clips of the movie industry hunting all those tigers literally made me cry – how unneccessary, how gluteonous, how disrespectful of life and how wrong.
In your opinion, what can one person do to help turn this around, since you have been so ‘upclose and personal’? God bless you and thank you for letting us know Broken Tail – what a great, great tiger!
wow what a beautiful portrail of this tigers life.It brought so much insite into perfect perspective.Only a woman usually brings such tenderess to a story.I think kids should be watching this type of stuff. It teaches them about the things that really count in this life Thank you ps.wish I could have shared your experience
Enjoyed the show about tiger ‘Broken Tail.’ So very sorry he met his demise of railroad tracks. It is known by train engineers in the US, any animal getting between the rails of a railroad track becomes mesmerized and is unable to jump free. Thus herds of domestic & wild animals as well as single animals run before the train until they are run over.
I saw this show on PBS and was floored by it. Colin – you said your dad called you Bee becauseyhou were alwas busy, like a bee, For the pasr several years, Ive bee called “Bee” too, short for Becky – and MY dad, bless his heart, called me Tiger when I was younger. Thus, I have always been fascinate by, and fond of tigers. This show broke my heart. Poor B rokentail! I hope we can save the tigers, bur it seems pretty bleak.
So sad ! another tiger died in such a young age. human population is 7 billion and still increasing. no place left for big animals like leopards, tigers , elephants, rhinos. unless population falls below 1 billion , no habitat will be left for animals.western hunters had done so much damage to wild life in asia and africa in early 20th century.