The African elephant known as the world’s loneliest has died after contracting a fatal virus while living in isolation at Delhi Zoo, India. Shankar, a 29-year-old male elephant, passed away on September 17, 2023, following a prolonged period of solitary confinement after losing his companion in 2001. His death has reignited discussions about animal welfare and the conditions in which elephants are kept in captivity.
Shankar arrived in India in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe to then-Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma. After his companion died, zookeepers noted a significant change in Shankar’s behaviour, reflecting the emotional toll of his loss. Efforts to introduce him to other elephants were unsuccessful, as they displayed hostility towards him.
In 2012, Shankar was moved to a new enclosure that further isolated him, even though a national regulation introduced in 2009 prohibits keeping elephants alone for more than six months. The animal welfare community had long advocated for Shankar’s transfer to a more suitable sanctuary, but a legal petition submitted to Delhi’s High Court in 2021 was rejected two years later.
The cause of death was confirmed as the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), which leads to severe heart inflammation and occasionally brain fever in mammals. According to Sanjeet Kumar, director of Delhi Zoo, the virus is often transmitted through the droppings and urine of infected rodents. The MSD veterinary manual indicates that EMCV cases are frequently associated with animals kept in captive environments such as zoos and research facilities.
Shankar’s case marks the first recorded fatality of an elephant from EMCV in India. A senior official at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) suggested that there may have been unreported cases of other mammals succumbing to the virus, highlighting potential gaps in monitoring animal health in captivity. When approached for comment, Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar declined to address concerns regarding rodent infestations at the facility.
The response to Shankar’s death has been one of sorrow and outrage among animal rights advocates. Nikita, who spearheaded the legal petition for Shankar’s transfer, stated that his passing was “preventable” and lamented the circumstances surrounding his solitary end.
Animal activist Gauri Maulekhi expressed her dismay, stating, “An internal inquiry is simply not enough. This must serve as a watershed moment to end the cruel practice of keeping elephants and other social animals isolated in our zoos for good.” Following Shankar’s death, only one African elephant remains in India, also living in solitary conditions.
The tragic story of Shankar raises critical questions about animal welfare in captivity. As public awareness grows, calls for reform are likely to intensify, aimed at ensuring that social animals like elephants are provided with environments that meet their physical and emotional needs.
