Gajamutthassi: Dakshayani – Elephant Grandmother
Travancore Devaswom Board, the renowned charitable institution of Kerala is in procession of 33 elephants. Among them the oldest in captivity is the 85 years old female elephant, Dakshayani. She was donated to the Travancore Royal Family when she was five or six years old.
In light of the above facts, the Travancore Devaswom Board honoured the elephant by bestowing upon it the title of “Gajamuthassi” (Elephant Grandmother) on 20th July 2016, at the Travancore Devaswom Board headquarters (Sumangali Kalyana mandapam), Nathancode, Thiruvananthapuram. However, Animal Rights Activists have their own viewpoints about Dakshayani.
With wrinkled skin and droopy eyes, Dakshayani is made to eye the Guinness Book of World Records. At 86, this elephant is said to be the world’s oldest captive Asian elephant. But this does not give her the privilege to live life queen size.
She will continue to be paraded for temple festivals. Dakshayani is in the custody of the Travancore Devaswom Board which manages several temples including the famous Shabarimala temple. The board has written to the Guinness Book authorities to confer upon her the title of the “World’s oldest elephant”. But animal activists are not happy.
“The wildlife protection act 1972 specifically states that every captive elephant above the age of 65 must be kept out of any elephant parade for any celebration. Such an elephant is a retired elephant which must be kept inside a forest like place without subjecting to scorching sunlight or downpour and must be kept away from tarred road or concrete floor. Venkitachalam VK, secretary, Heritage Animal Task Force is of the opinion that “They (the Board) have been flouting all norms,”
Dakshayani has no children and has been with the Travancore Devaswom Board for more than half a century now. Considering her age, her parading has now been limited to Thiruvananthapuram alone. Her mahout boasts about how well she has been taken care of. “She is not taken outside the city considering her age. She has also turned slightly blind in the right eye,” said Muralidharan Nair, her mahout. When her owners begin their retirement plans at half her age, Dakshayani is not allowed to retire yet.
Dakshayani breathed her last at the age of 88 on Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram. The animal lived a life of 88 years, generally captive elephants are known to have life-expectancy of just 40-plus years.
The Special cover issued on ( 27-07-2016, KL/14/2016) the occasion of bestowing the title of Gajamuthassi features an image of the elephant Dakshayani and the medallion in a frame with a Gold Embossed Border. The special pictorial cancellation is a line graphic sketch of an elephant within an oval.