Bhubaneswar: Bhabani, a 68-year-old captive elephant who assisted forest officials in conservation, security and tourism endeavours at Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district for over two decades, died on Tuesday morning due to age-related ailments.
Forest department officials said Bhabani’s molar teeth had deteriorated and her digestive system was malfunctioning over the past year due to old age. She was nourished with a cooked concentrate feed mixture, boiled vegetables, and multi-vitamin and calcium supplements.
“Her digestive system deteriorated progressively, and she died on Tuesday morning at approximately 6 am. She remained under constant supervision of the wildlife wing of the forest department,” the statement from the forest department said. “A postmortem will be conducted today,” the letter added.
Bhabani was procured from Karnataka forest department in Nov 2001 for protection and tourism activities in Similipal. “Bhabani gave birth to Rajkumar (male) and Shibani (female) in 2002 and 2008 respectively, the officials stated.
Bhabani was initially positioned at Gudgudia elephant camp alongside other captive elephants of Similipal. Subsequently, she was relocated and stationed at Hatighar elephant camp at Jenabil. Bhabani was retired from service, having surpassed 60 years in 2018.
Forest department officials acknowledged that Bhabani’s contribution in managing wild elephants in the tiger reserve was particularly noteworthy.
She provided tours to visitors atop her back in the tiger reserve, substantially enhancing the tourism potential of the area.
Bhabani’s death has come as a blow to the forest department as well as Similipal Tiger Reserve authorities as on Jan 12, another tursker, Mahendra (66) who had played a similar but a more significant role as Bhabani died of old age.
Mahendra helped the forest department officials in thwarting poachers and timber smugglers. It had also survived a Maoist ambush in the forest in 2012.