Asia’s Oldest Elephant Vatsala Dies at 100+

Vatsala, believed to be Asia’s oldest elephant and possibly the world’s oldest in captivity, died at over 100 years old at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Born in Kerala’s Nilambur forests in the 1910s or 1920s, she spent her early years hauling timber before being relocated to Madhya Pradesh and later becoming the matriarch at Panna in 1993. Vatsala played a vital role in conservation, nurturing calves and assisting in births even after her retirement. Her remarkable longevity was credited to the care provided by veterinarians and forest staff, especially during her final years with blindness and mobility issues. Although her exact age could not be verified for Guinness World Records, she is remembered as a symbol of wisdom and resilience. Officials and the public paid tribute to her enduring legacy in Indian wildlife conservation.