World's oldest elephant dies in Guruvayoor temple

Lakshmikutty, believed to be the oldest elephant in the world, has died at the age of 84 in Kerala's famous Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple.

The female elephant, donated to the temple by the Desamangalam mana (Namboodiri family) of Thrissur district in 1923, carried the presiding deity's idol on her back during the daily temple rituals till 1990.

Lakshmikutty, who died last Monday, was cremated at the Walayar forest in Palakkad district, about 75 kilometres away.

The Devaswam administration has recommended the elephant's name to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records.

UNI