Farewell to a Legend: Remembering Mohanmala, the Matriarch of Kaziranga

She was more than just an elephant. For nearly a century, Mohanmala carried the weight of floods, storms, and human challenges on her broad, gentle back. She braved disasters, saved countless lives, and became the heartbeat of Kaziranga National Park. Today, as news spreads of her passing, the forests feel quieter, the grasslands lonelier, and the people of Assam mourn a true guardian.

Born in a time when the park itself was still finding its place in India’s story of conservation, Mohanmala grew into an irreplaceable figure. She was not only a working elephant but also a symbol of endurance and loyalty. When the Brahmaputra’s waters rose and floods swallowed the land, Mohanmala waded fearlessly through the currents, carrying stranded rangers and villagers to safety. Many who survived those terrifying days still remember her strength as the difference between life and death.

Her service extended far beyond rescue. For decades, she was part of the frontline patrols that protected Kaziranga’s precious wildlife, from the one-horned rhinoceros to the migratory birds that filled its skies. Rangers trusted her as a steadfast partner, and visitors saw in her a living link between humans and the wild.

But Mohanmala was more than her work. To those who cared for her daily, she was family. Gentle with calves, affectionate with her mahouts, she embodied the patience and wisdom that only age and resilience can bring. Her story reminds us that elephants are not just animals of power, but creatures of deep emotion and intelligence.

Now, as Kaziranga bids farewell, her legacy stands firm. Generations to come will hear her name whispered in stories of bravery and kindness. The park’s landscape, its animals, and its people will forever carry the imprint of a matriarch who gave everything without asking for return.

Mohanmala may be gone, but her spirit still walks beside the river, still echoes in the trumpet calls at dawn, still watches over the wild heart of Assam.

Because legends do not die. They become the soul of the land they protected.