Kaziranga’s iconic elephant Mohanmala dies at 90, ending decades of service in patrols, rescues, tourism and conservation efforts in Assam.
Mohanmala, Kaziranga’s legendary 90-year-old elephant, passes away after decades of fearless service in conservation and rescue missions.
Assam: One of the most iconic elephants of the state of Assam has died aged 90. Mohanmala was part of Kaziranga’s most challenging operations over the decades from anti-poaching patrols and flood rescues to carrying tourists through the Kohora range’s wilderness and ferrying forest guards to areas inaccessible by any other means. She was one of the most celebrated working elephants of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, died on Thursday at an estimated age of nearly 90, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in the park’s conservation history.
Park director Sonali Ghosh said Mohanmala was part of Kaziranga’s most challenging operations over the decades from anti-poaching patrols and flood rescues to carrying tourists through the Kohora range’s wilderness and ferrying forest guards to areas inaccessible by any other means.
“She came here as a gift from a former officer. She was calm, composed, and yet fearless when needed,” Ghosh said.
In recent months, age-related ailments had severely weakened her. Forest veterinarians, with assistance from experts at the College of Veterinary Science, had been treating her for the past six months. Despite their efforts, her condition gradually deteriorated, and she passed away on Thursday morning.
Mohanmala had once worked alongside some of Kaziranga’s legendary elephants Gadapani, Ray Bahadur, Joy Shankar, Joymala, and Joytara all of whom are now gone. She also outlived five of her closest mahouts, remaining the sole surviving member of her generation.
Kiran Rabha, the head mahout of the Kohora range who had known her since 1983, remembered her as a powerful swimmer who could reach places where boats could not during rescue operations.
