THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The not so famous tusker, Poojappura Dakshayani was born in princely state of Travancore in 1930 and has been living in capital even since second world war era. If Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) could manage to prove her age to Guinness Book officials, the 86-year-old elephant will be credited as the oldest Asian elephant in captivity.
Gifted by Travancore royal family to Devasom Board, the elephant now lives at Chengalloor Mahadeva temple in the capital. The last recorded oldest Asian elephant in captivity Lin Wang of Taiwan zoo died at the age of 85. Dakshayani was among the 10 elephants given to Thiruvarattu Kavu, Attingal in early 1940s by Travancore king as a penance for not being able to attend a temple ceremony, says Devasom officials.
She was procured by royal family from Kodanad elephant camp, Ernakulam at the age of five and officials are presently digging out old records from Forest Department to prove their point. “She has all her teeth intact and this would have been impossible if she was in wild. The last set of teeth for elephants comes at around 45 years of age. Her mahouts are responsible for the long life,” said senior veterinary officer Sasindra Dev.
The second most eldest elephant in the state is Vadakkan Paravoor Sasi who is almost 82 years, though his records date only half his age. Last year, Kerala’s most elderly elephant Maheshwary, 85, had passed away in city zoo. There are around 33 elephants under TDB at temples between Neyyatin-kara to Vadakkan Pavoor.
