Oldest captive elephant in Malaysia dies

The oldest elephant in the country, Lokimala, has died at the age of 86 due to old age.

Lokimala, a female elephant, passed away at the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (PKGK) in Lanchang. She was brought to Malaysia from Assam, India in 1974.

Throughout her life, Lokimala played a significant role in pacifying and relocating over 150 wild male elephants to conservation centres. Known for her friendly, docile, and hardworking nature, she was a cherished member of the elephant management and welfare unit at PKGK.

Che Ku Mohd Zamzuri Chik Wan Ab Rahman, the chief of PKGK, expressed his attachment to Lokimala. He highlighted that Lokimala was brought to the country together with three other elephants, Ganesh, La Bahadul, and Paul Bahadul, to assist in the relocation of wild elephants. Additionally, Lokimala also participated in entertainment programs for visitors at the centre.

Zamzuri revealed that Lokimala had been facing health issues in recent years. Consequently, the centre’s management made the decision to remove her from the elephant operations team. A dedicated staff member had been taking care of Lokimala’s well-being, providing treatment and diet to support her during her declining state.

Zamzuri further noted that Lokimala is roughly the same age as another elephant named ‘Lin Wang’ at Taipei Zoo, which gained recognition in the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest elephant back in 2003.

M. Shujaei Aziz, Lokimala’s handler, expressed his sadness over her passing. He mentioned that caring for Lokimala over the years had been a pleasure. Lokimala was easy to care for, loyal, and friendly.