Shankar, the Delhi Zoo's only African elephant and a symbol of prolonged solitude, died on Wednesday night, prompting an official investigation into the cause, zoo authorities announced on Thursday. The 30-year-old bull elephant, who had been exhibiting signs of distress, including reduced appetite, in recent days, passed away in his enclosure at the National Zoological Park, leaving animal welfare advocates mourning the loss of a creature whose captivity had drawn global scrutiny.

Gifted by the Zimbabwean government to then-Indian President Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1996 as a diplomatic gesture, Shankar arrived at the Delhi Zoo in 1998 alongside a female companion, Vimbai (also known as Bombai). The pair initially thrived, but Vimbai's sudden death in 2005 plunged Shankar into isolation, a condition that persisted for nearly two decades despite repeated calls for companionship. African elephants, known for their complex social structures in the wild, suffer profoundly from loneliness, with lifespans typically reaching 70 years in natural habitats but often shortened in captivity due to stress-related ailments.

Shankar's plight escalated in recent years, marked by episodes of aggression linked to "musth"—a hormonal surge causing unpredictable behaviour—and physical restraint. In September 2023, he damaged his enclosure wall, injuring himself and a keeper, leading to extended chaining that violated Central Zoo Authority (CZA) guidelines prohibiting solitary elephant housing beyond six months.

This drew sharp criticism, culminating in the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) suspending the zoo's membership in October 2024 for welfare lapses, with a deadline of April 7, 2025, to relocate him or improve conditions. Efforts to procure a mate from Botswana were underway but tragically unfulfilled.

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Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar confirmed a detailed inquiry is underway, involving veterinary postmortem and viscera analysis to pinpoint the exact cause, potentially including chronic stress or underlying health issues. "A detailed inquiry will be carried out to determine the reason," Kumar told PTI, as activists decry systemic failures in Indian zoos housing over 100 elephants amid a 2009 CZA ban on exhibitions.

Shankar's death reignites debates on ethical captivity, with petitions like a 2022 Delhi High Court plea for his rehabilitation underscoring the urgent need for reforms to prevent further tragedies in facilities blending conservation with public display.

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