IFS Officer Shares Emotional Video Of 66-Year-Old Elephant Getting Farewell At Corbett Tiger Reserve. WATCH

IFS officer Dheeraj Pandey spoke about how Gomti had been brought from Assam to the park four decades ago and made significant contributions during her service at CTRP

IFS officer shares farewell video of 66-year-old elephant at Corbett Tiger Reserve

It was an emotional scene at the Corbett Tiger Reserve Park (CTRP) in Uttarakhand on Wednesday, as the staff members gave farewell to Gomti, a female elephant that dedicated 47 years of service to the CTRP. Her retirement farewell was organised by senior officers and staff at the Aamdanda Gate. A video of the emotional farewell was shared on the microblogging site X, formerly Twitter, by Indian Forest service Officer (IFS) Dheeraj Pandey.

Pandey spoke about how Gomti had been brought from Assam to the park four decades ago and made significant contributions during her service at CTRP. After being retired, Gomti will guide and nurture the next generation of camp elephants in the park.

"Today, we bid farewell to the remarkable Gomti, a 66-year-old matriarch who devoted 47 years to Corbett Tiger Reserve. Her legacy of forest patrolling, daring rescues, and a life-saving act of bravery stand as a testament to her extraordinary service. As she retires from active duty, she will now guide and nurture the next generation of camp elephants in CTR. Thank you, Gomti, for your incredible legacy and for being the epitome of dedication and courage," wrote Pandey along with sharing the emotional farewell video.

Gomti’s mahouts, Subedar Ali and Nisar Ali (both retired), and Farrukh Khan were reportedly honoured with medals and citations on her behalf at the farewell.

The video shared on X has garnered close to 13,000 views and some emotional comments from users.

🐘 Today, we bid farewell to the remarkable #Gomti, a 66-year-old #matriarch who devoted 47 years to Corbett Tiger Reserve. Her legacy of forest patrolling, daring rescues, and a life-saving act of #bravery stand as a testament to her extraordinary service. As she retires from… pic.twitter.com/83HGidSxPW

— Dheeraj Pandey, IFS (@DrDheerajPandey) October 4, 2023

"I travelled to CTR in 1976 as a primary school Cambrian Hall student. Thereafter at infrequent intervals until ~5 years back. Remember  Gomti. I do hope the Mahout will take her retirement well. Stories of one of the two moving on are part of wildlife folklore….," commented one user.

"It was my Honor to witness & be a part of Retirement Ceremony of "GOMTI" I will Remember and Cherish this Captivating and Emotional Moment Forever..," wrote another user.

"Farewell of elephant Gomati and reflects the honour and respect CTR management is showing towards animals. It is a great and unforgettable moment..," commented a third.