Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Joymala, a legendary patrol elephant at Kaziranga National Park, died Saturday night. She was 66. The elephant passed away in the Naloni area of the Agoratoli Range following a year of veterinary care for a long-term illness.
Forest officials gave the animal a ceremonial guard of honour before her last rites. She served the park for 34 years. She joined the unit in 1992, assisting guards with anti-poaching patrols, wildlife monitoring, and rescues.
Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah paid his respects to the animal. He called her one of the finest jungle warriors. The Minister said, "Joymala was far more than a patrol elephant. She was a trusted companion of generations of forest guards and mahouts who dedicated their lives to protecting Kaziranga."
She became world-famous in 2004. A photograph captured a tiger leaping over her back during a patrol. The image remains an iconic piece of the park’s history. It displayed the steady nerve of the elephant and her mahout.
Joymala worked alongside veteran mahouts Satyaban Pegu and Nilakhanta Koch throughout her career. Her legacy lives on. Her children and grandchildren now patrol the park to guard the wildlife.
Comments