Asia’s tallest tamed tusker died in Palakkad district of Kerala on Saturday. The 51-year-old elephant, Nanu Eezhuthassan Sivasankaran, breathed his last on his way to a temple festival at Lakkidi in the district.
The animal, which was being taken from the house of the main mahout, appeared exhausted and could not walk. A truck was brought to transport him, but the tusker was too weak and could not climb into the vehicle.
His physician Radhakrishna Kaimal and owner P S Jayagopal were rushed to the scene after the elephant collapsed.
A bulldozer was also called to pile sand in a way that the collapsing animal could lean on it. All efforts proved
to be in vain and the animal breathed his last around 3.30 pm.
At 10.6 feet, Sivasankaran’s height was such that his trunk did not touch the ground. The majestic jumbo was a favourite at temple festivals