Shankar, the only African Elephant in Delhi’s Zoo died on Wednesday night at a young age of 29.
In a press note Thursday, National Zoological Park (NZP) officials stated that “he was consuming leaves and grasses with slight loose motion but was taking concentrate, fruits, and vegetables normally.”
A probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of death, the press note stated.
As per the Zoo officials his condition was noted on Wednesday morning with immediate treatment given by NZP veterinarians. However, later that night, “Shankar suddenly collapsed in its shed, and despite emergency treatment, succumbed to death,” read the press statement.
In an official statement, “no sickness or abnormal behaviour” was reported until Tuesday.
Meanwhile, since 2012, Shankar has been kept in an isolated enclosure. Later, was even chained for years on account of acting stubborn and aggressive. While the Delhi Zoo, in the press statement said Shankar was known for his “gentle nature.”
Repeated warnings were issued by the Delhi High Court, Supreme Court, and even the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to improve Shankar’s living conditions and find him a mate.
In October 2024, the WAZA suspended the Delhi Zoo’s membership because of Shankar’s mistreatment. Post this order, a team of veterinarians from Reliance’s Vantara Zoo visited the Delhi Zoo to examine his health.
Videos released by the MOEFCC back then showed Shankar bobbing his head from side to side, which is a common stereotypic behaviour by animals when they are stressed.
Shankar arrived in India in 1998 with a female elephant named Bombai, both gifted by Zimbabwe’s then President Robert Mugabe to the President of India at the time, Shankar Dayal Sharma.
Since then the two were placed together in Delhi Zoo, run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), but Bombai died within two years, leaving Shankar alone.