Kaziranga bids farewell to the iconic elephant guard

A forest official performs the last rites of Joymala, one of the patrol elephants of Kaziranga National Park, in Nagaon, Assam, on July 5, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Officials and rangers of the Kaziranga National Park and Assam Tiger Reserve on Sunday (July 5, 2026) bid an emotional farewell to Joymala, one of the longest-serving elephants from the one-horned rhino habitat.

Officials said Joymala, listed as a “jungle warrior” in 1992, died on Saturday (July 4, 2026) night. She was 66.

Joymala gained international recognition in 2004 when she was jumped by a stray tiger while on patrol. The dramatic incident, caught on camera, has become one of the most iconic images of Kaziranga’s wildlife and has drawn global attention to the bravery and poise of the park’s patrol elephants and their handlers.

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“Today, Kaziranga bows its head in tribute to one of its bravest guardians. Joymala was more than a patrol elephant; she was a silent protector who spent 34 years protecting the national park. From anti-poaching patrols to wildlife rescue operations, she stood by our Forest Minister at every challenge and helped protect one of the largest forest landscapes in the world, Asaamu Mall Jayah.”

“As we farewell her with full honours, we pay tribute to a life of courage, loyalty and selfless service. Her legacy lives on through the generations of patrol elephants she leaves behind and continues the mission to protect Kaziranga and its majestic rhinos and tigers,” he said.

For many years Joymala was under the care of veteran mahout Satyaban Pegu, with whom she shared an extraordinary bond of trust and mutual understanding. In her later years her care was entrusted to Nilakant Koch who continued to care for her with dedication and love.

“Despite continuous veterinary care and treatment for almost a year due to prolonged illness, Joymala breathed her last on Friday evening at Naloni area under Agoratoli range in Kaziranga National Park,” an official statement said.

Joymala’s last rites were performed with a guard of honor by Kaziranga forest workers.

Published – 05 July 2026 21:00 IST