World’s loneliest elephant died of rare disease after decade of isolation in zoo following death of only friend

By

Nov 8, 2025

AN AUTOPSY report has revealed the cause of death of the world’s loneliest elephant – who lived in isolation for over two decades at an Indian zoo. The 29-year-old elephant, named Shankar, is said to have died in September from the encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). EMCV is a rare rodent-borne virus that can infect a range…