Who was Vatsala? Asia’s oldest elephant known as 'Dadi Maa'
Vatsala, affectionately called “Dadi Maa,” was Asia’s oldest elephant and a beloved matriarch at Panna Tiger Reserve. Born in Nilambur, Kerala, Vatsala was brought to Narmadapuram in 1971 for timber work. In 1993, she was shifted to Panna Tiger Reserve, where she spent the rest of her life. She nurtured generations of calves, earning deep respect from staff and tourists.