January 13th 2025.
In Baripada, a small town in Odisha, there was sad news about the passing of a special elephant. This 66-year-old tusker, named Mahendra, had dedicated his life to protecting the timber and tigers in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. Sadly, he passed away while receiving treatment at the Chahala camp on Sunday night, as confirmed by a senior forest department official.
According to the field director of the Similipal Tiger Reserve, Prakash Chand Gogineni, Mahendra had stopped eating on Sunday morning and eventually succumbed to old age-related weakness. He had been under the care of veterinarian Abhilash Acharya, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Mahendra was not an ordinary elephant, he was a trained jumbo who was brought to Similipal from the Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Karnataka in 2001. Along with two female elephants, Bhavani and Shobha, he had been an integral part of the reserve for nearly two decades. However, he had endured some challenges during his time there, including bullet injuries from a Maoist attack in 2012 and arrow hits from poachers. Despite these adversities, he had managed to recover and continue his important work.
One of Mahendra's duties was to protect the tigress Sundari, who had been brought to the Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary in Angul district from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. However, he was later relocated back to Similipal where he had been serving for many years.
The news of Mahendra's passing was met with great sorrow by forest officials and local communities. He was considered a true hero, a symbol of strength against poachers and timber smugglers. His bravery and dedication to the protection of wildlife in Similipal will always be remembered and honored.
A forest department official expressed their heartfelt sentiments, stating that Mahendra was more than just an elephant, he was a true defender of the reserve and its inhabitants. His legacy will continue to live on, inspiring others to follow in his noble footsteps. The passing of this noble tusker has left a void in the hearts of many, but his memory will forever be cherished.
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