Vatsala, Asia’s Oldest Elephant, Passes Away in Panna Tiger Reserve at Over 100 Years Old

Vatsala, the revered female elephant believed to be more than 100 years old, passed away on July 8, 2025, at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Known affectionately as “Dadi” (grandmother), Vatsala was a living symbol of resilience, compassion, and wildlife conservation in India. Born in Kerala’s Nilambur forests, she was rescued in the early 1970s and brought to Madhya Pradesh, where she spent decades assisting forest staff in tiger tracking, patrols, and wildlife rescues. In 1993, she made Panna her permanent home, where she remained until her final days. Despite never giving birth, Vatsala assumed a maternal role within the herd. She was often seen comforting young elephants, especially during injuries and childbirth. Her calm and nurturing presence earned her deep respect from both elephants and humans. Forest officials described her as emotionally intelligent, patient, and responsive to both verbal and non-verbal communication—even though she had initially been raised by a Malayalam-speaking mahout from Kerala, while her later caretakers spoke Hindi. Her life was not without hardship. In 2003 and again in 2008, Vatsala was attacked by a rogue male tusker. One particularly violent encounter left her with internal injuries, including a ruptured abdomen. She underwent nearly a year of intensive veterinary care, during which forest officials fed her porridge by hand and helped her recover. Despite the trauma, she resumed her quiet life, eventually being retired from active duty in 2004. Her bond with her mahout, Maniram Gond, only deepened in her later years. Gond stayed by her side through her blindness, immobility, and eventually hand-fed her in the final stages of life. On July 8, Vatsala was found collapsed near a drainage point at the Hinauta Elephant Camp. She had been suffering from a painful leg wound and was visibly weakened due to her advanced age. Forest officials and veterinarians attempted emergency treatment, but she passed away around 1:30 pm. She was believed to be between 100 and 110 years old—an extraordinary feat, as most Asian elephants live only 60 to 70 years. Despite attempts to have her recognized by Guinness World Records, the lack of documented proof from her early life meant she could not be officially listed as the world’s oldest elephant. Her death prompted an outpouring of emotion across India. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described her as a guardian of the forest and an emotional figure for generations. Wildlife experts noted her significance not just as a record-breaker, but as a figure who represented a rare depth of trust, memory, and endurance. As her body was laid to rest by the very people she worked with for decades, tributes flooded in from conservationists, mahouts, and the general public alike. Vatsala’s life is a reminder that some legacies are not carved in stone or paper—but in the quiet footprints left behind in the forest floor, and in the hearts of those who cared for her.