Aged 89, India’s Oldest Domestic Elephant Passes Away

The oldest domesticated Asiatic elephant in India, named Bijuli Prasad, has passed away at the age of 89 in Assam’s Sonitpur district, according to officials. The majestic elephant, residing in The Williamson Magor Group’s Behali tea estate, succumbed to age-related ailments around 3.30 am on Monday. A gathering of animal enthusiasts, tea estate workers, and locals assembled to pay their respects to the departed pachyderm.

Bijuli Prasad, a cherished figure for The Williamson Magor Group, originally arrived as a calf at Bargang tea estate before being relocated to Behali after the sale of Bargang. The elephant had enjoyed a regal life on the tea estate after retirement. Renowned elephant surgeon and Padma Shri awardee, Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, noted that Bijuli Prasad holds the distinction of being India’s oldest recorded domestic elephant. Normally, wild Asiatic elephants have a lifespan of 62-65 years, while domesticated ones, given proper care, survive around 80 years.

Around 8-10 years ago, Bijuli Prasad faced a crisis when all of its teeth fell out, rendering it unable to eat. Dr. Sarma intervened, changing its diet to mainly boiled food rich in protein such as rice and soybean, which significantly extended its life. The elephant received approximately 25 kg of food daily, as confirmed by an official from Behali tea estate.