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Vatsala is believed to be over 100 years old, with her birth year estimated around 1917. This makes her the only elephant known to have lived beyond a century.
She has been a resident of the Panna Tiger Reserve since 1993, having been brought to Madhya Pradesh from Kerala in 1971.
Vatsala was born in the wild, which adds to the difficulty of pinpointing her exact age, as formal birth records don't exist.
Before her retirement, she served in various capacities, including ferrying timber and tourists.
Despite her advanced age, she continues to navigate with the help of her trunk and other herd members, though she has lost her vision due to cataracts.
Officials have attempted to register her in the Guinness Book of World Records, but the lack of definitive birth records has posed a challenge. (Image: Social Media)
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