Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

Vatsala, Asia’s oldest elephant, passed away at over 100 years of age in the Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, on July 8, 2025. Originally from the Nilambur forests of Kerala, she was relocated to Madhya Pradesh in the 1970s and became a central figure in tiger tracking and forest patrol at Panna National Park. Even after retirement in 2003, she remained active in conservation efforts by mentoring younger elephants. Panna Tiger Reserve, known for its success in tiger reintroduction after facing extinction from poaching, gained further prominence through Vatsala’s iconic presence and contribution to wildlife conservation in the region.