Beloved Elephant ‘Mahendra’ Passes Away in Similipal

Baripada: ‘Mahendra,’ a trained elephant cherished by forest officials, passed away on Sunday night in the Chahala area of Odisha’s Similipal sanctuary. The 65-year-old tusker succumbed to age-related ailments at 9:45 PM despite ongoing treatment.

Mahendra was brought to Similipal in December 2001 from Karnataka’s Rajiv Gandhi National Park, alongside two female elephants, Bhavani and Shobha. Over the past 24 years, he played a crucial role in combating timber mafias and protecting wildlife from poachers, earning a special place in the hearts of forest officials.

The tusker demonstrated extraordinary resilience during a Maoist attack in the Gudgudia range in March 2009, where he sustained bullet injuries and arrow strikes. After a remarkable recovery, he resumed his duties and continued serving the sanctuary.

In January 2019, Mahendra was deployed to safeguard tigress ‘Sundari’ during a critical wildlife operation, further cementing his legacy as a protector of Similipal’s forests.

Recently, Mahendra fell ill and was undergoing treatment in the Chahala region of Similipal North Division. Despite the efforts of forest authorities and veterinarians, he passed away during treatment.

Mahendra’s contribution to wildlife conservation and forest protection will remain an inspiration for years to come.

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