Shankar (elephant): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox animal|species=African elephant|gender=Male|birth_date=1996|birth_place=Africa|residence=Delhi Zoo, India|image=Shankar Elephant.jpg|alt=Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: Nikita Dhawan|caption=Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: Nikita Dhawan|name=Shankar}}
* Sex: Male
* Species: African Elephant
* Date of Birth: 1996
* Place of Birth: Africa
* Location of capture: Unknown, Africa
* Date of capture: 1998
* Age at capture: 2
* Captive at: Delhi Zoo, India


== History ==
'''Shankar''' is an African elephant that was gifted to India by the Zimbabwe government in 1998. He was placed in Delhi zoo along with another elephant named Bombai. However, after Bombai's death in 2005, Shankar has been living in isolation.<ref name=":0">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60150533 Shankar the elephant: Plea to send lonely African animal home from India] BBC</ref>
[[File:Shankar Elephant.jpg|alt=Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: Youth for Animals|thumb|Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: [https://youthforanimals.org/ Youth for Animals]]]In 1998, an [[elephant]] aged 2 was captured in Africa and presented to the Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Shri Babu Lal Marandi in India by the High Commissioner of Zimbabwe. Shri Babu Lal Marandi named the young elephant "Shankar".
== Capture ==
In 1998, an [[elephant]] aged 2 was captured in Africa and presented as a diplomatic gift to the Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Shri Babu Lal Marandi in India by the High Commissioner of Zimbabwe. Shri Babu Lal Marandi named the young elephant "Shankar".


Shankar is chained for 17 hours of the day and does not have adequate space to move around when he is let out. He constantly demonstrates stereotypical behaviour like swaying and head-bobbing, a key sign of distress. His aggressive behaviour has necessitated the zoo authorities to permanently close the viewing pathway since he could be a danger to visitors.<ref>[https://youthforanimals.org/?page_id=1260&playlist=394d7e6&video=e07394a Help free Shankar from decades of solitary confinement in the Delhi Zoo] Youth For Animals</ref>  
== Controversy ==
Shankar is chained for 17 hours of the day and does not have adequate space to move around when he is let out. He constantly demonstrates stereotypical behaviour like swaying and head-bobbing, a key sign of distress. His aggressive behaviour has necessitated the zoo authorities to permanently close the viewing pathway since he could be a danger to visitors.<ref>[https://youthforanimals.org/?page_id=1260&playlist=394d7e6&video=e07394a Help free Shankar from decades of solitary confinement in the Delhi Zoo] Youth For Animals</ref>
 
Shankar exhibits aggressive behavior during his “musth” phase, which is a period of heightened sexual activity and hormonal changes in male elephants. During this phase, he has tried to break the walls of his enclosure and hurt his mahout. He has also shown signs of stress and frustration, such as striking his head against the wall and attempting to escape. The zoo authorities have medicated him to control his testosterone levels and chained him to prevent him from harming himself or others. This phase usually lasts for a few months every year.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/shankar-delhi-zoos-lonely-african-elephant-turns-aggressive-officials-step-in-to-calm-him-down-8952171/lite/ Shankar, Delhi zoo’s lone African elephant, turns aggressive, officials step in to calm him down] The Indian Express [https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/shankar-delhi-zoos-lonely-african-elephant-turns-aggressive-officials-step-in-to-calm-him-down-8952171/lite/ Archived] Sep 24, 2023</ref>
 
== Advocacy ==
A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court by [[Nikita Dhawan]], founder of the non-profit [[Youth For Animals]], seeking to send Shankar back to Africa and rehabilitate him in a wildlife sanctuary that houses other African elephants.<ref name=":0" />  


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[The effects of captivity on elephants]]
* [[The effects of captivity on elephants]]
* [[Zoochosis]]
* [[List of living captive elephants]]
* [[List of living captive elephants]]
* [[Captive animal deaths by year]]
* [[Nikita Dhawan]]
* {{See also/elephant}}
== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://youthforanimals.org/ Youth For Animals]
* [https://youthforanimals.org/ Youth For Animals]
* [https://www.change.org/p/freeshankardelhizoo-help-free-shankar-26-year-old-male-african-elephant-from-his-solitary-confinement-at-the-delhi-zoo-follow-our-campaign-page-for-updates-bit-ly-freeshankar Help free Shankar from decades of solitary confinement in the Delhi Zoo] Change.org
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxtWOYNuUX0&t=15s&ab_channel=ABCNews Teen makes plea to relocate Shankar the elephant from Indian zoo] ABC News
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxtWOYNuUX0&t=15s&ab_channel=ABCNews Teen makes plea to relocate Shankar the elephant from Indian zoo] ABC News
* [https://www.theanimalreader.com/2022/12/03/elephants-living-alone-in-zoos-around-the-world/ Elephants living alone in zoos around the world] The Animal Reader
* [https://www.theanimalreader.com/2022/12/03/elephants-living-alone-in-zoos-around-the-world/ Elephants living alone in zoos around the world] The Animal Reader
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxtWOYNuUX0 Teen makes plea to relocate Shankar the elephant from Indian zoo] YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxtWOYNuUX0 Teen makes plea to relocate Shankar the elephant from Indian zoo] YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmIdf8NmtFc INTERVIEW: African elephant Shankar extremely lonely at Delhi zoo] YouTube
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmIdf8NmtFc INTERVIEW: African elephant Shankar extremely lonely at Delhi zoo] YouTube
* [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thethinkwildlifepodcast/episodes/Episode-7-Freeing-Shankar--Indias-Only-African-Elephant---Nikita-Dhawan-e1ssh89/a-a942jbi Episode 7: Freeing Shankar] The Think Wildlife Podcast
* [https://allaboutanimalsradio.com/all-about-elephants/youth-for-animals/#wbb8 Free Shankar - Youth For Animals] All About Animals Radio
* [https://allaboutanimalsradio.com/all-about-elephants/youth-for-animals/#wbb8 Youth For Animals] All About Animals Radio
* [https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voicescarryforanimals/2022/06/30/animal-advocates-radio-voices-carry-for-animals-360-youth-for-animals-yfa Voices Carry For Animals #360 Youth for Animals (YFA)] Blog Talk Radio
* [https://www.blogtalkradio.com/voicescarryforanimals/2022/06/30/animal-advocates-radio-voices-carry-for-animals-360-youth-for-animals-yfa Voices Carry For Animals #360 Youth for Animals (YFA)] Blog Talk Radio


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[[Category:Captive elephants - living]]
[[Category:Captive elephants - living]]
[[Category:Captive elephants]]
[[Category:Captive elephants]]
 
[[Category:Solitary zoo elephants]]
[[Category:Needs infobox]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Pages with petitions links]]
[[Category:1998]]

Latest revision as of 10:13, 2 April 2024

Shankar
Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: Nikita Dhawan
Shankar the elephant at Delhi Zoo, India. Photo: Nikita Dhawan
SpeciesAfrican elephant
SexMale
Born1996
Africa
Captive atDelhi Zoo, India

Shankar is an African elephant that was gifted to India by the Zimbabwe government in 1998. He was placed in Delhi zoo along with another elephant named Bombai. However, after Bombai's death in 2005, Shankar has been living in isolation.[1]

Capture

In 1998, an elephant aged 2 was captured in Africa and presented as a diplomatic gift to the Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Shri Babu Lal Marandi in India by the High Commissioner of Zimbabwe. Shri Babu Lal Marandi named the young elephant "Shankar".

Controversy

Shankar is chained for 17 hours of the day and does not have adequate space to move around when he is let out. He constantly demonstrates stereotypical behaviour like swaying and head-bobbing, a key sign of distress. His aggressive behaviour has necessitated the zoo authorities to permanently close the viewing pathway since he could be a danger to visitors.[2]

Shankar exhibits aggressive behavior during his “musth” phase, which is a period of heightened sexual activity and hormonal changes in male elephants. During this phase, he has tried to break the walls of his enclosure and hurt his mahout. He has also shown signs of stress and frustration, such as striking his head against the wall and attempting to escape. The zoo authorities have medicated him to control his testosterone levels and chained him to prevent him from harming himself or others. This phase usually lasts for a few months every year.[3]

Advocacy

A petition was filed in the Delhi High Court by Nikita Dhawan, founder of the non-profit Youth For Animals, seeking to send Shankar back to Africa and rehabilitate him in a wildlife sanctuary that houses other African elephants.[1]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shankar the elephant: Plea to send lonely African animal home from India BBC
  2. ↑ Help free Shankar from decades of solitary confinement in the Delhi Zoo Youth For Animals
  3. ↑ Shankar, Delhi zoo’s lone African elephant, turns aggressive, officials step in to calm him down The Indian Express Archived Sep 24, 2023
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