Shankar (elephant)

Sex: Male

Species: African Elephant

Date of Birth: 1996

Place of Birth: Africa

Location of capture: Africa

Date of capture: 1998

Age at capture: 2

Captive at: Delhi Zoo, India

History

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".

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.^[1]