The elephant known as the world’s loneliest has died after contracting a virus believed to be transmitted by rodents. Shankar, a 29-year-old male African elephant, passed away on September 17, 2023, at the Delhi Zoo in India. Despite extensive campaigning by animal rights activists for his relocation to a specialist wildlife sanctuary, Shankar spent most of his life in isolation following the death of his companion in 2001.
Shankar’s solitary existence began after the passing of his mate, who arrived in India with him in 1998 as a diplomatic gift from Zimbabwe to then-Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma. Zookeepers noted a significant change in Shankar’s behavior after losing his friend. Attempts to introduce him to other elephants were unsuccessful, as they exhibited hostility towards him. An anonymous zoo worker described the situation, stating, “He was left friendless.”
In 2012, Shankar was moved to a new enclosure, which further isolated him, despite a national ban enacted in 2009 that prohibits housing elephants alone for more than six months. The conditions of his confinement have drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates, who argued that social animals like elephants should not be kept in isolation.
Following a post-mortem examination, Delhi Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar confirmed that Shankar had succumbed to the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). This virus can cause severe heart inflammation and, in some cases, brain fever in mammals. It is primarily transmitted via the droppings and urine of infected rodents. According to the MSD veterinary manual, the majority of EMCV cases have been linked to animals in captive settings, such as pig farms, primate research facilities, and zoos. Shankar’s death marks the first documented case of an elephant dying from EMCV in India.
A senior official at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) indicated that there may have been unreported instances of other mammals dying due to EMCV. When asked about potential rodent issues at the zoo, director Kumar declined to comment.
In 2021, a legal petition was filed in Delhi’s high court, seeking Shankar’s transfer to a sanctuary where he could live alongside other African elephants. That petition was ultimately denied in 2023. Following Shankar’s death, the petition director, Nikita, expressed her belief that the elephant’s passing was “preventable,” stating it was “heartbreaking to see him die like this.”
With Shankar’s passing, only one African elephant remains in India, also living in solitary confinement. Animal activist Gauri Maulekhi emphasized the need for systemic change, declaring, “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.”
The death of Shankar has reignited discussions about the ethical implications of keeping social animals in captivity and the urgent need for reforms within zoos worldwide. As the conversation unfolds, advocates are calling for more humane treatment and better living conditions for animals in captivity.
