A male elephant named Gabbar, who worked in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam in north-east India, ferrying tourists, died today following a prolonged illness, Park officials said.
The 50-year old elephant, named after the villain ‘Gabbar Singh’ of mid seventies Bollywood film ‘Sholay’, was injured following a fight with a buffalo in the Park in December last. ‘Sholay’ is still considered among the most popular films in the Indian film Industry.
The elephant was treated by Park veterinarians for the last seven months but it died this morning in the Bagori range. Gabbar carried tourists on its back for more than twenty years and later as he aged, the elephant was used to carry rations to the different camps in the Park.