GUWAHATI: Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve lost one of its most iconic departmental elephants, Mohanmala, who died on Thursday due to age-related ailments. She was 70-80 years old.
She retired from active departmental duties in 2003, the park said.
Mohanmala was brought to Kaziranga on May 17, 1970, procured from Kamrup. Over the next five decades, she served the park with exceptional dedication, becoming an inseparable part of Kaziranga’s conservation history.
“Known for her fearlessness, obedience, and docile temperament, Mohanmala was an excellent swimmer and a dependable companion during the challenging flood seasons,” the park said in a statement.
At times, when forest frontline staff could not reach their camps by boat or go on patrolling duties, it was Mohanmala who carried them on her back, ensuring critical duties were never disrupted.
She served across different ranges of Kaziranga and played an active role in anti-poaching operations, aiding the staff in the most difficult terrains and situations.
“Over the course of her service, she gave birth to two female calves—Malati, who sadly passed away at the young age of 17 years, and another calf who tragically died just three days after birth, having fallen prey to a tiger,” the statement said.
One memorable account, shared by her head mahout Kiran Rabha, stands as a lasting testament to Mohanmala’s bravery and her instinct to protect those she trusted.
On an early winter morning, while on patrol near the wetland known as Mihibeel, Rabha was mounted on Mohanmala, accompanied by Malati. The morning calm was suddenly shattered when a wild bull elephant, emerged and charged aggressively at them.
“The enraged bull closed the distance rapidly, trumpeting. In a display of raw power, it uprooted a large tree and flung it aside. In that split second of danger, Mohanmala, sensing the imminent threat to her mahout and calf, made a decisive move. Without hesitation, she turned towards the deep waters of Mihibeel—waters she knew well from her flood-time journeys—and plunged in, urging Malati to follow,” the statement said.
With powerful strokes, she ferried Rabha across, putting a safe distance between them and the bull. Once she reached the far bank and ensured her mahout was safe, she vanished into the surrounding forest with her calf.
For weeks, her whereabouts were unknown. Then, one day, Mohanmala returned to her camp along with Malati, calm and unharmed, possibly after about a month, marking a poignant reminder of their survival, resilience, and the unspoken bond between elephant and human.
“With her passing, Kaziranga National Park has lost not just a working member, but a trusted colleague, a flood-time saviour, and a symbol of loyalty and courage. Her decades of service will remain etched in the park’s history, and her absence will be deeply felt by all who worked alongside her,” the statement further stated.