Dakshayani turns 86

In Trivandrum, Kerala celebrations are on, honouring Dakshayani.

If everything goes well, the 86-years old Dakshayani is going to bring prestige to the country by entering the annals of Guinness World Records, as the world’s oldest elephant.

According to ANI news service, Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) which owns the elephant, has applied to Guinness World Records, claiming Dakshayani to be the oldest of all living elephants.

Elephants are revered creatures in Kerala. Many have their own fan clubs. Temples in the state, too have what are called ‘temple elephants’. The latest news of Dakshayani is just another sign of popularity of the giant mammal in the state.

However, there is another side to the reverence of elephants in Kerala.

‘Gods in shackles’ a documentary by a Canadian India filmmaker Sangita Iyer, released this year in January showed the torture and abuse the temple elephants of Kerala face. In fact, 11 elephants held captive for temple festivals have died so far this year.

Even the Kerala government was been moved by the condition temple elephants are kept in.

While, Dakshayani might bring glory to Kerala as the oldest living elephant in the world, the condition that most of these animals survive in, longevity wouldn’t be one of the things they’d wish for.