Vaidyanathapura Rama Krishna Iyer, 100, among India’s most distinguished jurists, advocates for animals, and advocates in particular for improving the lives of temple elephants, died on December 4, 2014 from the combination of renal and cardiac failure. Though of Tamil Brahmin family background, V.R. Krishna Iyer was born and raised in the Malabar region of […]
Raju the Independence Day elephant is released
Wildlife SOS rehabilitation success After fifty long years of being chained and leading a life of suffering, Raju the elephant was freed in the early hours of the morning on July 4, 2014 by Wildlife SOS. For the first time after five decades, he enjoyed freedom. It is an interesting coincidence that July 4 happened to […]
Forest guard killed by elephants at Bandipur National Park, India
Lokesh, 38, a forest guard at Bandipur National Park between Mysore and Ooty, India, was fatally trampled by a herd of wild elephants on May 9, 2014. H.C. Kantharaj, director of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, told The Hindu that Lokesh had apparently become surrounded by the elephants while on foot patrol. Seven other people were […]
Elephant Family founder Mark Shand, 62
Mark Shand, 62, died on April 23, 2014 from a head injury suffered in a fall when he reportedly tried to re-enter a New York City bar through a revolving door, after smoking a cigarette outside. Shand, the younger brother of British Prince Charles’ wife Camilla Parker Bowles, was author of the 1992 British […]
“Elephant whisperer” Marianus Topno, 48
Marianus Topno, 48, a factory welder in rural Odisha state, India, was fatally trampled by elephants on November 13, 2013 in the Saranda forest. Topno had become known for politely asking elephants to leave villages and farms where they were doing damage, with frequent success. His daughter Nirmala, 17, of Pograposh village, had become renowned […]
Elephants no longer part of Indian Republic Day parades
Elephants will no longer be part of India’s Republic Day parades. This welcome decision will be a shot in the arm for those who would like to see abuse of our heritage animals stopped. The first step was when the Ministry of Environment & Forests during the tenure of Jairam Ramesh declared heritage status for the elephant. While […]