Oldest elephant Bandula dead

24 September 2022 02:00 am Views - 1953

• He was 78-years-old at the time of death
• The elephant had been handed over to the zoo in 1943 by wildlife  conservators when it was a year old calf that roamed away from the herd

By H.M. Dharmapala   

The oldest elephant in the Dehiwala Zoo named Bandula, died in the early hours of last morning. He was 78-years-old at the time of death. 

 A spokesman for the zoo said the elephant had been handed over to the zoo in 1943 by wildlife conservators when it was a year old calf that roamed away from the herd.  

Then Director of the Zoo Major Obrey Weinman had taken steps to train the elephant for the elephant dancing show which is a main tourist attraction.  

A senior official of Dehiwala Zoo said the average life span of an elephant was between 60 and 80 and that Bandula lived 78 years due to the health care and attention. He said the elephant Bandula had taken ill recently and died last morning despite attempts of the veterinary surgeons to save his life. 

• Bandula had taken ill recently and died last morning despite attempts of the veterinary surgeons to save his life