Kaziranga National Park has lost one of its most celebrated patrol elephants, Joymala, whose death marks the end of more than three decades of dedicated service in protecting the park’s wildlife. Paying tribute on July 5, Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah described her as one of Kaziranga’s “finest jungle warriors” and said her remarkable contribution to conservation would be remembered for generations.
Born in 1960, Joymala joined Kaziranga in 1992 and spent 34 years assisting forest personnel in anti-poaching patrols, wildlife monitoring, rescue operations and routine protection duties. Throughout her service, she became an indispensable part of the park’s conservation efforts, working alongside forest guards and mahouts across the reserve’s challenging terrain.
Remembering her extraordinary career, the Minister recalled the widely known incident in 2004 when a stray tiger leapt over Joymala while she was on patrol. The dramatic moment, captured on camera, drew international attention and became one of the most iconic images associated with Kaziranga, highlighting the calmness displayed by both the elephant and her mahout during the encounter.
Calling Joymala much more than a patrol elephant, Mallabaruah said she had been a trusted companion to generations of forest guards and mahouts who devoted their lives to protecting Kaziranga. He added that her unwavering service and sacrifice would continue to inspire everyone associated with wildlife conservation.
Joymala was cared for over the years by veteran mahout Satyaban Pegu before the responsibility was later taken over by mahout Nilakhanta Koch. Despite receiving veterinary treatment for nearly a year for a prolonged illness, she passed away on Saturday night in the Naloni area under the Agoratoli Range of Kaziranga National Park.
Forest officials, staff and frontline personnel paid their final respects by according Joymala a ceremonial Guard of Honour during her last rites. The tribute recognised her decades of dedicated service in safeguarding the park’s rich biodiversity.
The Minister noted that patrol elephants remain an essential part of Kaziranga’s conservation success, helping forest teams carry out anti-poaching operations and wildlife protection across flood-prone areas, dense forests and other difficult landscapes. He also said Joymala’s legacy would continue through her children and grandchildren, several of whom are now serving as patrol elephants in Kaziranga.
“As Kaziranga bids farewell to one of its greatest guardians, Joymala’s legacy of courage, loyalty and selfless service will forever remain etched in the history of the park,” the Minister said.
