https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kottoor_SomanKottoor Soman - Revision history2026-10-27T17:52:37ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kottoor_Soman&diff=510664&oldid=prevSheldonTopper4: Put Up The Data V1.2025-08-18T18:22:54Z<p>Put Up The Data V1.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian kumki elephant and false longevity claimant}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}<br />
{{Infobox animal<br />
| name = Kottoor Soman<br />
| image = Konni elephent soman (cropped).jpg<br />
| caption = <br />
| species = ''[[Elephas maximus]]'' (Asian Elephant)<br />
| gender = Male<br />
| birth_date = {{circa|1942}} (age 82)<br />
| birth_place = [[Konni, Kerala|Konni]], [[Kerala]], India<br />
| nationality = Indian <br />
| owner = [[Kerala Forest Department]]<br />
| height = {{height|m=|precision=}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Kottoor Soman''' ({{circa}} 1942),<ref>[https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=5901 Profile], elephant.se. Accessed 1 June 2024.</ref> also known as '''Konniyil Soman''' and '''Kottur Soman''', is an [[Asian elephant]], born in India. A retired [[Kumki (elephant)|kumki]], he was represented in 2020 to be the oldest living elephant in the world, owned by the [[Kerala Forest Department]], but the claim of birth year has not been confirmed, which is why his submission into Guinness Book of Records was rejected.<ref>{{Cite web|last=കുമാർ|first=ബി അജിത്|title=Kotur Elephant Grandfather to enter into Guinness book of records.|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/soman-78-yr-old-elephant-in-kottoor-elephant-camp-1.5101053|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-02-20|website=Mathrubhumi|language=ml|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004224643/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/soman-78-yr-old-elephant-in-kottoor-elephant-camp-1.5101053}}</ref><br />
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In fact, the longest-living elephant in the world was '''Vatsala''', a female elephant who lived in the Panna Tiger Reserve in [[Madhya Pradesh]], India. She died on Wednesday, 9 July 2025. She remains the only elephant known to have lived 100 years or longer.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250709064559/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/asias-oldest-elephant-vatsala-dies-at-panna-tiger-reserve-mp-cm-pays-tributes/article69790118.ece Asia's oldest elephant 'Vatsala' dies at Panna Tiger Reserve; MP CM pays tributes], thehindu.com. Accessed 12 July 2025.</ref><br />
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==History==<br />
The forest department of Kerala procured Soman from Thekkuthodu Kepramala area of [[Ranni Forest Division|Ranni Forest]] Division in 1968, which is the earliest confirmed record. After taking him to Konni elephant camp, he was trained and served as a [[Kumki (elephant)|kumki]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=തലയുയര്{{not a typo|&zwj;}}ത്തി ആനമുത്തച്ഛന്{{not a typo|&zwj;}} ഗിന്നസിലേയ്ക്ക്|url=https://www.etvbharat.com/malayalam/kerala/state/thiruvananthapuram/elephant-grandfather-watig-guinness/kerala20201103161054951|access-date=2021-02-20|website=ETV Bharat News|date=3 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Many elephants were trained under Soman until 1977, after which the government banned the capture of forest elephants.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ഡെസ്ക്|first=വെബ്|title=പ്രായത്തിൽ മുന്നിൽ; കോന്നി സോമൻ ഗിന്നസ് റെേക്കാഡിലേക്ക്|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/local-news/kottayam/--582734|access-date=2021-02-20|website=Madhyamam|date=9 October 2020|language=en}}</ref> <br />
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In October 2020, an event was organised at the [[Kottur Elephant Sanctuary and Rehabilation Centre]], where Soman was honoured by the other elephants in the sanctuary, as the authority was preparing to enter him into [[Guinness World Record]] for the oldest elephant, after his purported 78th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oldest living elephant; Soman honoured|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/04oct2020-1.5103738|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-02-20|website=Mathrubhumi|language=ml|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107055251/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/print-edition/kerala/04oct2020-1.5103738}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[List of individual elephants]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kottoor Soman}}<br />
[[Category:1940s animal births]]<br />
[[Category:Elephants in Indian culture]]<br />
[[Category:Elephants in Hinduism]]<br />
[[Category:Elephants in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Individual elephants in India]]<br />
[[Category:Individual Asian elephants]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] <br />
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