BHOPAL:  Vatsala, the oldest elephant in Madhya Pradesh and unofficially considered to be the world’s oldest elephant too, died at the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) of the state on Tuesday.

The elephant was a legend and pride of the PTR. Unofficially, she was considered to be more than 100 years old. Her birth was supposed to have taken place in the 1920s.

Officially, however, she could not get the tag of oldest elephant in the world from the Guinness Book of World Records, due to the absence of an official birth certificate. Nonetheless, Vatsala was the oldest elephant in MP.

As per the officially available data, Vatsala was born in the Nilambur forest of Kerala. In 1971, she was brought from there to Hoshangabad (presently Narmadapuram) in Madhya Pradesh. In 1993, Vatsala was transferred to the PTR, and she lived the rest of her life there.

She served actively in tiger tracking operations for nearly a decade. She retired in 2003, but continued to contribute to the elephant camp by caring for the young calves of other cows, too.

Vatsala’s last rites were conducted with reverence at Hinauta Camp in the presence of PTR officials, including Field Director Anjana Suchita Tirkey, Deputy Director Mohit Sood, and wildlife veterinarian Dr Sanjeev Gupta.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav also expressed sadness at Vatsala’s passing away. Dr Yadav paid tribute to Vatsala on social media, calling her the “silent protector of forests.”

He wrote, “Vatsala was not just an elephant, she was a guardian of the forest, a friend of generations, and a symbol of our state’s deep connection to nature.” He also emphasized the emotional bond Vatsala shared with her herd and the forest staff.