Granny Dakshayini, Asia’s Oldest Captive Elephant, Dies in Kerala

‘Granny’ Dakshayini, who was 88, was resting in her shed near the temple when she passed away around 3.30 pm.

Granny Dakshayini had been a resident at the Chengallur Mahadeva temple in Thiruvananthapuram for the last 70 years.

(Photo: The News Minute)

Asia’s oldest captive elephant – ‘Granny’ Dakshayini – passed away on Tuesday, 5 February, in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore Devasom Board told The News Minute. She was 88 years old.

“She was resting in her shed near the temple when she passed away around 3.30 pm. Her post mortem will happen on Wednesday after which she will be cremated,” Shajin, assistant Devaswom commissioner of the Travancore Devaswom Board, told TNM.

Dakshayini had been a resident at the Chengallur Mahadeva temple in Thiruvananthapuram for the last 70 years. She reportedly came under the Board’s care when she was 5 years old.

In 2016, she reportedly entered the United Record Forum (URF), a step below the Guiness Records, for being the oldest elephant in Asia.

Following this, she was conferred with the ‘Gaja Muthassi’ or ‘Granny Elephant’ title.

According to TDB authorities, Dakshayini was a “well mannered” elephant who rarely threw tantrums.

(With inputs from The News Minute)