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Journalism of Courage
Sunday was a sad day for wildlife enthusiasts around the country after the forest department in Karnataka announced the death of Bhogeshwara, an elephant which was said to have the longest tusks among Asian elephants, at 60.
Bhogeshwara, who was very popular amongst tourists and was affectionately called Mr Kabini, was found dead at the Gundre Range of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. The elephant was named Bhogeshwara after he was frequently sighted near the Bhogeshwar camp, an anti-poaching camp located near the Kabini backwaters area.
According to Bhogeshwara’s autopsy report, he died of natural causes. The elephant’s tusks—measuring 2.54 metre and 2.34 metre—were removed and his dead body was left for vultures in accordance with the forest department’s protocol regarding the natural death of wildlife.
Several filmmakers and ecologists who encountered Bhogeshwara during their work spoke about his gentle nature. Kalyan Varma, an Emmy-nominated environment filmmaker, tweeted that Bhogeshwara was the “coolest tusker whom I have ever encountered”.
M D Madhusudan, a wildlife biologist, tweeted several old photographs of Bhogeshwara and wrote, “Nearly 25 years ago—when vultures were still not uncommon—I met him regularly. Although he was still young and somewhat gangly, his tusks shorter and more slender, his dignity, calm and poise already made him quite a presence on the Kabini backwaters.”
Shobha Karandlaje, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, also tweeted a video of Bhogeshwara and expressed sorrow at his passing.
Commenting on her tweet, a Twitter user wrote, “A request to the hon politician pls make a law to give freedom to all elephants from temples and relocate them to sanctuaries since most of the captive elephants hv major health problems since they r used as money making machines and not taken care of.”
