Pic: Rupesh Kukade
Asia’s oldest elephant has fallen silent. Vatsala, a majestic matriarch over 100 years old, took her final breath this week at Panna Tiger Reserve, leaving the forest and its caretakers in mourning.
To those who knew her, Vatsala was never just an elephant — she was a companion, a gentle elder, and the heart of the forest camp.
Fondly called ‘Dadi’, ‘Nani’ (grandmother), and ‘Dai Maa’ (midwife) by those who cared for her, Vatsala embodied gentle wisdom, kindness, and unconditional love.
For decades, Vatsala’s life revolved around caring for others. As the herd’s matriarch, she nurtured generations of calves, even assisting younger elephants as a midwife during many of their births.
Ever the doting grandmother, Vatsala would play with newborn calves. She guarded them fiercely from harm. Despite having no milk of her own, she even let the little ones suckle for comfort and warmth.
It started with Mohankali, a rescued calf brought to Panna in 2001. Vatsala played with her, guided her, and helped her wean — a tradition she continued with every calf born after.
Caretakers say she helped raise at least 32 calves, guarding them fiercely, standing by during births, and never straying far — just like their grandmother.
When age stole Vatsala’s sight, her 'grandkids' became her guides. The younger elephants lovingly helped the partially blind matriarch navigate the forest on her daily walks. They never left her side.
Forest caretakers pampered her through her golden years. Each day, they led Vatsala to a stream for a refreshing bath and fed her a warm porridge mash, while veterinarians ensured she stayed healthy.
Her century-long journey was not without hardships. Vatsala began life in Kerala’s Nilambur forests, worked in Bori Sanctuary as a logging elephant in the 1970s, and later gave tourist rides in Panna until retiring in 2003.
Vatsala’s service extended beyond her herd. For years, she carried rangers on patrols to track tigers and even helped Panna’s tiger reintroduction efforts, becoming a true conservation hero.
📍Vatsala’s 100-year journey 🟢 c.1917 – Born in Kerala’s Nilambur forests ↓ 🌲 Brought to Bori Sanctuary in the 1970s as a logging elephant ↓ 🚛 1971 – Relocated to Madhya Pradesh ↓ 🌿 1993 – Shifted to Panna; gave tourist rides until 2003, then became matriarch ↓ 🕊️ July 2025 – Passed away peacefully at an estimated age of 102 ↓ 📜 Age is now being verified through dental carbon dating for Guinness recognition
Though Vatsala’s final chapter has ended, her legacy lives on. The memory of this gentle giant — her love and strength — will forever live in the soil she roamed and the hearts of those who loved her.
Pic: Rupesh Kukade