In an immensely heartbreaking moment for wildlife aficionados, forest officials, and everyday people from all over India, Vatsala – Asia’s oldest living elephant, died on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. At over 100 years old, Vatsala was one of the last living elephants of her age, experiencing an extraordinary, lengthy, and special life as an Asian elephant.
Her death marked an end of an era – a life from long ago, which connected generations and epitomized the fragile coexistence with wildlife.
A Journey from Kerala to Madhya Pradesh
Vatsala’s long and fantastic life began from Kerala, as it was later reported that she had been moved to Narmadapuram, and then finally to Panna Tiger Reserve. Over the years, she became a true icon at the reserve, loved by all – tourists, forest personnel, and wildlife enthusiasts.
A Figure of Matriarch & Guardian of Forest
Vatsala was distinguished by age and deservedly will be missed, for years she filled a special and honorable position at the reserve as the matriarch of her elephant group. Vatsala was calm and relaxed in her role, yet taught the younger elephants and their caretakers by simply being there for them. When other females gave birth, she instinctively acted as the grandmother of the newborn calf and treated with care and affection, just like its mother would. It is clear Vatsala was socially intertwined with her group, which demonstrated the higher-level emotional and familial relationship elephants are known for.
Declining health and end of life
In her final days, Vatsala was having more and more trouble with her body. She had lost her sight due to the effects of old age, and had lost the use of some of her legs, which limited her range of movement. The Hinauta Elephant Camp were taking care of her extremely well.
Every day, the forest staff would take her to the Khairaiyaan drain in the Hinauta range, to take a bath, along with her special diet (with porridge to allow her to gain additional nutrients). Vatsala’s health had been slowly deteriorating due to her injury to the nails of her front legs.
On the morning of July 8, Vatsala sat down next to the Khairaiyaan drain and didn’t get up. After several determined but unsuccessful attempts to help her up by the forest department staff throughout the morning and afternoon, the majestic elephant died peacefully in the afternoon.
Veterinary Care
Throughout Vatsala’s twilight years, veterinarians and wildlife experts had been able to monitor Va (Vatsala) on a regular basis, so much so, that many wildlife folks credit her remarkable length of life to the kindness of the forest staff. Vatsala was able to live in the dry and sparse forests of Panna, substantially longer than what would be the normal lifespan of most elephants in captivity (even protected).
