Shivamogga: Karnataka’s oldest tusker Indira breathed its last at the Sakrebailu elephant camp near here early on Monday morning.
Captured during the Khedda operation at Kakanakote near Mysuru, ninety-year-old Indira was brought to Sakrebailu in 1968 along with two other elephants, Balarama and Bhaskar, who were later sent to Mysuru and Kerala respectively while Indira was retained at Sakrebailu, said Shivashankar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Shivamogga division.
The average lifespan of an elephant is around 70 years but Indira lived an exceptionally longer life.
It is said that Indira continued to remain healthy for many years until 10 years ago when she lost an eye thereby making search for food difficult. A few weeks ago, Indira lost another eye and subsequently stopped taking food.
Indira had delivered a male calf in 1978 and a female one in 1983. They were named Lakshmeesha and Usha, respectively. Lakshmeesha was handed over to Udupi Mutt while Usha was sent to the Kerala forest, he added.
Indira was cremated in the camp after the post-mortem. With its death, the number of elephants at Sakrebailu has reduced to 22, a source in the Forest department said.
