India’s oldest domestic elephant Bijuli Prasad dies at 89

 A CORRESPONDENT

BISWANATH CHARIALI: India’s oldest domestic elephant, estimated to be around 89 years old, died due to age-related complications at around 3.30 am on Monday. The elephant, named Bijuli Prasad, was in Behali Tea Estate of McLeod Russel India Ltd. under Behali LAC in Biswanath subdivision.

Bijuli Prasad was witness to the British colonial rule. He was earlier kept in Bargaon Tea Estate but was later shifted to Behali Tea Estate as Bargaon Tea Estate was sold off by the company.

The elephant was bought by Williamson Magor Tea Company about 85 years ago. The British manager of the Bargaon Tea Estate, Oliver named the elephant Bijuli Prasad. Bijuli was once a symbol of the company’s nobility. A number of employees were hired by Oliver to take care of Bijuli Prasad. Its health check-up was done regularly and the reports were sent to Kolkata, the headquarters of the tea company.

The elephant was provided 25 kg of food every morning while he was alive. The list of Bijuli’s food included rice, maize and gram, along with banana trees. The tea company spent Rs 6 lakh annually to take care of Bijuli. It underwent regular health check-ups under veterinary doctor Dr KK Sharma. After the death of an elephant from Karnataka named Chamunda Prasad at the age of 82 years, Bijuli Prasad was recognized as the oldest elephant in the country.

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