There is an important distinction in describing Mohanmala's career.
She was associated with Kaziranga for more than 55 years, from her arrival in 1970 until her death in 2025.
Her active departmental service, however, ended with her retirement in 2003.
That means her working career lasted roughly 33 years, followed by more than two decades of retirement under the Forest Department's care.
Yet to the people of Kaziranga, the relationship clearly did not end when her active duties stopped.
She remained part of the park.
The place she had helped protect became the place where she grew old.
And ultimately, it became the place where she died.
The Memory of a Flood-Time Hero
There are many ways to measure a working life.
Years.
Patrols.
Kilometres traveled.
Floods crossed.
Operations completed.
But Mohanmala's legacy is difficult to capture through numbers alone.
Perhaps it is better understood through an image.
Imagine a flooded Kaziranga.
The road has disappeared.
Water surrounds an isolated forest camp.
A ranger needs to get through.
A vehicle cannot make the journey.
A boat cannot reach the destination.
Then an elephant enters the water.
She moves forward steadily.
A forest worker sits on her back.
The current surrounds them, but the elephant keeps swimming.
That was the kind of moment for which Mohanmala became remembered.
For decades, she carried people through places they could not easily cross alone.
She helped forest staff continue their work when the landscape itself seemed determined to stop them.
She supported the people protecting rhinos and other wildlife.
And long after her working years ended, the people of Kaziranga continued caring for her.
When Mohanmala died in 2025, Kaziranga lost one of its oldest links to an earlier generation of conservation.
But the stories remained.
Stories of patrols through difficult terrain.
Stories of anti-poaching operations.
Stories of flooded camps.
Stories of a charging wild bull elephant and a desperate escape through deep water.
Stories of an elephant who could become an ambulance when there was no road.
Mohanmala arrived at Kaziranga in 1970.
She retired from active service in 2003.
She remained there for the rest of her life.
And on August 14, 2025, after more than half a century connected to the park, her journey ended.
She was not simply an elephant living inside a wildlife reserve.
For generations of forest staff, she had been something much more.
A partner.
A protector.
A dependable companion when the water rose.
And one of Kaziranga's unforgettable flood-time heroes.
Sources
Press Trust of India (PTI), August 14, 2025 — Reporting on Mohanmala's death, her arrival at Kaziranga in 1970, retirement in 2003, age-related ailments and her long association with the Forest Department.
The New Indian Express, August 14, 2025 — Detailed reporting based on Kaziranga National Park's statement, including Mohanmala's flood-season work, swimming ability, anti-poaching duties and the Mihibeel incident recounted by head mahout Kiran Rabha.
Hindustan Times, August 14–15, 2025 — Reporting and interviews with Kaziranga personnel about Mohanmala's anti-poaching work, flood rescues, ability to transport forest personnel and her reputation as an unofficial ambulance.
The Telegraph India, August 15, 2025 — Reporting on the tribute paid by Kaziranga authorities following Mohanmala's death and the park's description of her as a trusted colleague and flood-time saviour.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Kaziranga National Park — Background information on Kaziranga's ecological importance, biodiversity and World Heritage status.