Ask someone returning from a Jim Corbett safari what they saw, and the conversation usually starts normally.
“Lots of deer, elephants, beautiful forest…”
Then comes the important question:
“Tiger dikha?”
And if the answer is yes, the next question is often, “Which tiger?”
That’s where things get interesting.
Over the years, several tigers and tigresses of the Corbett landscape have become familiar to safari guides, wildlife photographers and regular visitors. Some became known because of the territory they occupied. Others were recognised by their behaviour, appearance or a memorable characteristic.
Names such as Paro, Sharmilee and Paarwali started becoming part of Corbett safari stories.
But before we get into the names, there is something important to understand.
Do Tigers in Jim Corbett Really Have Names?
Not quite in the way your dog at home has a name.
Wild tigers are scientifically identified through individual markings, particularly their stripe patterns. Every tiger’s stripe pattern is unique, which allows researchers and forest authorities to distinguish one animal from another using camera-trap photographs.
Popular names are a different matter.
Guides, drivers, photographers and people who regularly observe a particular tiger sometimes start referring to it by a memorable name. Reporting on tiger identification in India notes that wildlife authorities use formal identification systems rather than depending on these popular nicknames.
So if somebody tells you:
“Today we’ll find Paro at 8 AM.”
you might want to lower your expectations slightly.
Paro never received the itinerary.
With that cleared up, let’s meet some of the names associated with Corbett’s tiger stories.
1. Paro – One of Corbett’s Most Famous Tigresses
If there is one name that has travelled far beyond Corbett’s safari tracks, it is Paro.
She became one of the best-known tigresses associated with Corbett after being recorded around 2013–14. Accounts of her life describe her establishing a substantial territory around the Ramganga landscape and becoming a favourite among photographers and regular visitors.
She became so well known that she has frequently been described as the Queen of Corbett or Queen of the Ramganga landscape.
What made Paro interesting wasn’t simply that people saw her.
Visitors began recognising her behaviour and following the story of her territory and cubs over multiple safari seasons.
A tiger sighting suddenly wasn’t just:
“We saw a tiger.”
It became:
“We saw Paro.”
That’s quite a promotion when you consider she never hired a PR agency.
2. Paarwali – The Tigress From Across the River
You’ll sometimes see Paarwali and Paro discussed together, and sources have even referred to the famous Corbett tigress as “Paarwali aka Paro.”
The name itself has an interesting connection with the landscape.
“Paar” refers to the area across the Ramganga River, and the tigress associated with that territory became popularly known as Paarwali—essentially referring to the female from across the river.
This is a good example of how wildlife nicknames develop naturally.
Nobody sat in an office with a list of baby names.
The forest provided the name.
Paarwali became particularly memorable to photographers because she was observed around the Dhikala landscape and Ramganga river system. Older safari accounts describe sightings of her around the river and nearby areas.
3. Sharmilee – The Famous Bijrani Tigress
Another name frequently associated with older Corbett safari stories is Sharmilee, particularly around the Bijrani landscape.
The name roughly suggests someone shy or reserved.
Ironically, becoming famous among hundreds of wildlife photographers isn’t the most successful way to remain shy.
Sharmilee became particularly well known when she was seen with cubs. Wildlife accounts from Corbett describe her as one of the frequently photographed tiger families in Bijrani during that period.
Her story also demonstrates something important about following individual wild tigers.
Visitors don’t only become interested in the adult animal. They start watching the next generation grow.
Cubs appear beside their mother.
Months later they’re considerably bigger.
Eventually they begin becoming independent and finding territories of their own.
For regular Corbett visitors, following that journey can be every bit as interesting as getting one dramatic tiger photograph.
4. Paharwali – The Tigress Associated With the Hills
Some tiger names tell you something immediately.
Paharwali is one of them.
“Pahar” means hill or mountain, and accounts from Corbett have described Paharwali as a tigress associated with the hilly landscape.
Names based on territories are practical for guides and regular visitors.
Instead of remembering an identification number during everyday safari conversation, a descriptive name connects the tiger to a particular landscape.
That doesn’t make the name an official government identity, but it makes forest stories much easier to remember.
5. Pandit – The Mature Male
Corbett’s famous tiger stories aren’t limited to tigresses.
A male popularly called Pandit has also appeared in accounts from the reserve.
The name suggests wisdom or maturity, and one published Corbett travel account described Pandit as a mature male while explaining how guides use characteristics and territories to recognise individual animals.
Male tigers can cover substantial territories, and sightings may change considerably as territorial relationships change.
That’s another reason a “famous tiger list” should never be treated like a permanent tourist directory.
This isn’t:
Tiger 1 – next to the river
Tiger 2 – behind the tree
Tiger 3 – lunch break
They’re wild animals constantly moving through a changing landscape.
6. Romeo – A Memorable Male From Dhikala
Romeo is another male tiger remembered in safari accounts from the Dhikala landscape.
One detailed safari story describes an encounter in which Romeo suddenly emerged while elephants were nearby, creating exactly the kind of unpredictable wildlife moment people remember years after returning home.
The name Romeo might sound unusually romantic for a large territorial predator.
But wildlife naming has never been particularly strict.
Sometimes a tiger’s name comes from its location.
Sometimes from behaviour.
And sometimes someone apparently decides the forest needs a Romeo.
7. Choti Paro – Carrying a Familiar Name Forward
The Paro name didn’t simply disappear from Corbett stories.
A younger tigress popularly known as Choti Paro has been described as a daughter of the older Paro. Recent wildlife/travel accounts describe her in the Dhikala landscape and report that she has had cubs of her own.
“Choti” simply means smaller or younger.
So the name effectively connects a new generation with one of Corbett’s most recognisable tigresses.
For regular wildlife visitors, this family history is fascinating.
You may first photograph a tigress as a cub beside her mother.
Years later, you return and find that same animal with cubs of her own.
At that point, a safari becomes less like checking animals off a list and more like following a very slow wildlife series—with seasons measured in years instead of episodes.
8. Pedwali – The Tree-Climbing Cub
Another memorable name connected with Paro’s family is Pedwali, sometimes written as Ped Wali.
The name is linked to her reported habit of climbing trees when young. A 2022 report discussing Paro and her offspring specifically described one of her female cubs as Pedwali because she was frequently observed climbing trees.
Again, this demonstrates how informal tiger names develop.
One animal spends time across the river: Paarwali.
Another becomes associated with trees: Pedwali.
Visitors and guides remember the behaviour, and eventually the nickname sticks.
9. Bhola – A Name From the Dhela Landscape
More recent accounts of Corbett’s individually recognised tigers also mention a male called Bhola, associated with the Dhela landscape.
The name “Bhola” commonly suggests an innocent or uncomplicated nature, and a recent account describes him as relatively calm in comparison with the aggressive image people sometimes associate with dominant male tigers.
Of course, “calm” should never be confused with tame.
A tiger is still a wild apex predator.
You admire Bhola from the safari vehicle.
You do not attempt to discover whether he lives up to his nickname.
Other Names You May Hear Around Corbett
Depending on the period, safari zone and person you’re speaking with, you may hear other names associated with individual Corbett tigers.
Historical and contemporary accounts have mentioned names such as Prince, Titli, Dolphin, Virat, Bhola, Romeo and others.
Some names remain famous for years.
Others are used mainly by a smaller group of guides or photographers.
And some eventually disappear from everyday safari conversations as territories change and new generations establish themselves.
That’s normal.
The tiger population is dynamic, not a fixed cast of characters.
Why Do People Give Wild Tigers Names?
Numbers are useful for science.
Names are useful for stories.
Imagine returning from Corbett and telling your friend:
“We saw individual identification number XYZ.”
Now compare that with:
“We finally saw Paro near the Ramganga.”
You already know which story is going to be remembered.
Names help guides, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts talk about individual animals and their histories.
But we should remember that these names are primarily popular identifiers rather than a complete official naming system.
Tiger identification for scientific monitoring relies on physical characteristics such as their unique stripe patterns and camera-trap records.
Can You Choose a Safari Zone Based on a Famous Tiger?
This is where the fun story needs a practical reality check.
You shouldn’t book a particular Corbett zone solely because somebody posted a photograph of a famous tiger there.
A tiger can move.
Territories change.
Cubs become adults.
Males enter new areas.
Females establish different territories.
And even when a known tiger is somewhere within a zone, that doesn’t mean it will walk beside the safari track during your three-hour visit.
Wildlife doesn’t work according to Google Maps.
Choose your safari based on current zone availability, season, your itinerary and the type of landscape you’d like to experience.
Consider a tiger sighting a wonderful possibility—not a service included with the ticket.
What If You Don’t See a Tiger?
Congratulations.
You’ve experienced a real wildlife safari.
There is absolutely nothing unusual about entering tiger habitat without actually seeing a tiger.
You may still see elephants, spotted deer, sambar, monkeys, wild boar and an impressive variety of birds.
Sometimes you’ll see pugmarks.
Sometimes you’ll hear alarm calls.
Sometimes every Jeep will stop because somebody is convinced a tiger is nearby.
Everybody becomes silent.
Cameras are ready.
Five minutes pass.
Ten minutes pass.
And then a deer walks out.
That’s the forest.
It doesn’t owe us a tiger just because we woke up at 5 AM.
Planning Your Own Jim Corbett Safari
If you’d like to experience the forest yourself, start by checking safari availability before finalising the rest of your trip.
Jeep and Canter options, tourism zones and operating periods are subject to applicable forest rules and availability.
Travellers who want assistance can use our Jim Corbett Safari Booking service for help understanding available safari options and coordinating their trip.
JimCorbetts.in can also assist with accommodation, transportation and other Corbett travel requirements.
JimCorbetts.in is an independent private travel agency and is not the official website of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand Forest Department or any government authority. Safari permits, zones, timings and availability remain subject to applicable official rules.
The Tigers Change, but the Stories Continue
There will never really be a final “list of tiger names in Jim Corbett.”
And that’s a good thing.
Paro became a legend. Sharmilee had her own chapter. Paarwali became associated with the Ramganga landscape. Other males, females and cubs appeared, established territories and became familiar to people who spent enough time observing the forest.
A new generation eventually takes over.
Some will receive nicknames.
Some will become photographers’ favourites.
Others may spend most of their lives avoiding safari vehicles altogether.
Perhaps that’s the best thing about Corbett.
You can visit the same forest ten times and never really visit the same forest twice.
And if you’re lucky enough to see a tiger, don’t worry too much about whether you know its name.
For those few minutes, simply watching it walk through its own forest is enough.