Kaziranga National Park has bid a final farewell to one of its most iconic patrol elephants, 66-year-old Joymala, who passed away on Saturday night. Joymala was laid to rest with a guard of honour by Forest Department personnel in Kaziranga on Sunday. The elephant’s 34 years of service as a patrol elephant have left an indelible mark on the region, with numerous stories of her bravery and dedication to wildlife conservation.
One of the most notable incidents involving Joymala dates back to 2004, when she and her then mahout, Satyaban Pegu, were part of a team tasked with tracking a large tigress that had killed cattle in a village near the national park’s boundary. In a dramatic confrontation, the tigress leapt towards Joymala’s head while the elephant was carrying a team of officials, including a range officer, a veterinarian, and a guard. Despite the tigress swiping at Pegu and injuring him, Joymala remained calm and attempted to pin the tigress down with her foot, allowing the team to escape.
The incident was captured on video by the then divisional forest officer, R K Das, and has been widely viewed. Following the incident, Pegu was forced to retire as a mahout due to his injuries, but Joymala continued to serve as a patrol elephant for over 15 years under the care of another mahout, Nilakhanta Koch. According to the current DFO, Arun Vignesh, Joymala was a ‘motherly figure’ to younger calves, even after her retirement.
At least three of her own calves are currently serving as patrol elephants in the national park. Joymala’s life has been hailed as a reminder of the crucial role that patrol elephants play in Kaziranga’s conservation success. As the national park’s statement noted, ‘These gentle giants are the voiceless warriors of Kaziranga, standing steadfast beside the foot soldiers of the forest through floods, difficult terrain, and countless conservation challenges.’
