‘Oldest' elephant in captivity dies

The Star

11-07-2025

An emotional loss for many: Vatsala was believed to have been born in the forests of Nilambur, Kerala, in the late 1910s. — The Straits Times/ANN
Vatsala, thought to be the world's oldest elephant in captivity, has died at a wildlife sanctuary in India's Madhya Pradesh state.
She was believed to be more than 100 years old when she died on Tuesday, though there are no records proving that as a fact.
The Guinness World Record holder for oldest elephant in captivity is still Lin Wang. He died at a zoo in Taiwan in 2003 at the age of 86 and had served with the British Army in World War II.
Dakshyani – another elephant in India – had also been in the running for the title. She died in captivity in 2019, and her supporters said she managed to reach the ripe old age of 88.
But as far as the state government of Madhya Pradesh is concerned, Vatsala surpassed both – all three were Asian elephants – by about 20 years.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, in a post on X, said: 'The century-­long companionship of Vatsala came to a pause. She was not merely an elephant; she was the silent guardian, a friend to gene­rations and a symbol of Madhya Pradesh's emotions.'
If she indeed reached the cen­tury mark, she would have lived through the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War and 18 American presidents.
Elephants on average live for about 50 to 70 years.
Wildlife experts say that by the age of 70, elephants typically lose their tusks. Vatsala had been without tusks since 2000.
She was believed to have been born in the late 1910s in the forests of Nilambur, Kerala.
She was brought to Narma­da­puram city in Madhya Pradesh in 1971 to haul timber.
Going by Indian officials and wildlife experts' estimates, she was already in her 50s then.
In 1993, Vatsala was moved to the Panna Tiger Reserve, where she helped rangers track tigers.
She retired in 2003.
The years that followed saw her play the role of 'Dadi Maa' (grand­mother in Hindi) to young elephants and calves at an elephant sanctuary, where she became a top tourist attraction.
'She had a motherly nature. I saw her lovingly caress and guide the young ones as if they were her own.
'Her death is an emotional loss for the reserve staff and others who knew her,' wildlife conservationist Rajesh Dixit said.
'It is sad that her name could not be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.'
Vatsala slipped into a drain and suffered injuries a few days prior to her death. She was given round-the-clock medical care and a special fruit-and-porridge diet, but her condition deteriorated.
Vatsala was cremated at the Hinauta elephant camp, which had been her home for decades. — The Straits Times/ANN