The lonely elephant Shankar has died at the Delhi Zoo: Activists cite negligence.

The end of the life of elephant baby Shankar

According to The Sun: The death of the famous elephant has sparked a wave of sympathy among animal rights activists who tried to rehabilitate him.

Shankar, the only African elephant at Delhi Zoo, died on Wednesday evening after refusing to eat for most of the day.

Shankar died 40 minutes after his fall, despite the efforts of the veterinarians. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

The director of the zoo, Sanjit Kumar, stated in an interview with the BBC that an investigation into the cause of Shankar's death had already been initiated. He noted that there were no reports of illnesses or unusual behavior from the elephant before Wednesday morning.

The story of Shankar

Shankar came to India in 1998 along with another elephant as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe to former Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma. His companion died in 2001, leaving him alone.

There were attempts to integrate Shankar with Asian elephants, but these failed as Shankar and the other elephants showed aggression towards each other.

[Shankar] was playful when his companion was nearby. They were popular with zoo visitors, noted a former zoo employee.

In 2012, Shankar was moved to a new enclosure, leading to his loneliness, despite a federal law in 2009 prohibiting keeping elephants alone for more than six months. Shankar remained in this enclosure until his death.

Over the years, activists called for Shankar to be moved to a sanctuary specializing in the rehabilitation of African elephants. However, in 2023, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition for his relocation.

Zoos struggle to find companions for two male African elephants due to high costs, numerous levels of approval, and animal welfare concerns.

The activists' response

Activists have long criticized Shankar's living conditions, describing his enclosure as 'gloomy and inadequate.'

It was devastating to see him die like this, expressed Nikita Dhawan, the founder of the non-profit organization Youth for Animals.

She emphasized that the 'death of Shankar reflects years of institutional indifference and neglect.'

According to activists, Shankar's death was a result of a lack of adequate care: the elephant had no serious health issues and was too young to die.

The elephant's death occurred after the Delhi Zoo lost its membership in the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums due to concerns about its living conditions.

The planned relocation of a female elephant to Shankar took place, but unfortunately, he died before her arrival.