Lonely life and death of a single African elephant dolly

Animal protection activists in India mourn the death of a very favorite elephant, which they have long sought to rehabilitate.

Shankar, a lonely African elephant at the Delhi Zoo, who spent most of his life in isolation, refused to eat on Wednesday and collapsed until the evening. Despite the veterinary efforts, the 29-year-old man died within 40 minutes, officials said.

For 24 years, Shankar has survived a lonely existence – including at least 13 spent in a solitary confinement.

The cause of his death is not yet known. “The study regarding the cause of death was ordered,” said Zoo Director Sanget Kumar.

Shankar was one of two African elephants who arrived in India in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe’s former Indian President Shankar.

But Shankar’s satellite died in 2001, Mr. Kumar said.

A former zoo official who did not want him to be identified, said that after his satellite’s death, Shankar was temporarily filed with Asian elephants at the zoo, but the plan did not work.

“They were very aggressive to each other,” he said, adding that Shankar was soon isolated.

“He (Shankar) was playful when he was his companion. They were popular with the Zoo visitors. Shankar’s behavior changed after another African elephant died. Shankar never accepted any other elephants, and they did not accept Shankar. He was left without friendly,” the former official said.

In 2012, Shankar was transferred to a new corps, which left it practically in solitary imprisonment – despite the federal ban in 2009 to keep elephants for more than six months. He remained there until death.

For many years, activists have demanded the removal of Shankar from the zoo and rehabilitation in the wildlife shrine, which houses other African elephants.

In 2021, Delhi’s Supreme Court’s petition addressed Moving the shankar to the shrine with other African elephants. Two years later, the court rejected the petition, sending the applicant to a committee engaged in zoos.

By Wednesday, Shankar was one of the only two African elephants in India’s zoos. The second – also an adult man – lives at the Moore Zoo in the South Karnataka state.

Zoos has long been struggling to find comrades in two African men -man, with efforts that are delayed high cost, normative obstacles, several approval and well -being problems, Indian express -expression report.

The activists also criticized the conditions in which Shankar was kept in the zoo in Delhi, describing their body as gloomy and insufficient.

“It is great to see how he dies so,” said Nikita Dhavan, founder of non-profit youth for animals who filed a 2021 court. “It was easy to prevent. He (Shankar) had no serious health problems. And he was too young.”

Average life expectancy of African elephants 70 years old.

Mr. Kumar, Director Delhi -Zaparka, stated that there was no “illness and abnormal behavior” in Shankar’s case until the morning.

Animal defense activist Gavr Maleh said Shankar’s death reflects “years of institutional apathy and neglect” and called it a systemic failure that requires accountability.

“The internal request is just not enough,” said the BBC MS Maulekhi. “It was a systemic failure that requires real responsibility and should serve as a turning point to stop the hard practice of preserving elephants and other social animals isolated in our zoos forever.”

Asked about the allegations of neglect, Mr. Kumar replied: “All concern and maintenance,” but refused to accept specific questions.

In October 2024, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums rejected the Delhi Zoo on the occasion of Shankar’s living conditions after the report that it was chained, PTI news agency reports.

The world body gave Delhi Zoo until April 2025 to either move to Shankar, or improve his help, warning that his membership would be stopped if the term is missed.

A day after the suspension, the federal minister examined the Shankar Corps and said his health looked better. On October 15, the government announced the plans to bring him a satellite, saying that Zimbabwe and Botswana showed interest and formalities.

Officials at the Delhi Zoo said they no longer receive notifications from the world body. And Shankar died before the satellite could be organized.

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