Bhubaneswar, Sept 3: Kharsel, a 65-year-old elephant, passed away at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anshu Pragyan Das confirmed that Kharsel, who had been in captivity for many years, died due to old age. Over the past five to six months, Kharsel's movements had slowed, and it had stopped eating and drinking. The elephant had been tranquilized and brought to Debrigarh from Balangir's Kharsel Jungle in 1998 after it had attacked and killed several people.

Sanctuary staff had been caring for Kharsel, but its health had been deteriorating due to its advanced age. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined.

Kharsel became a legendary figure after being captured in July 1995 in Bolangir, largely due to the efforts of the then DFO. Before its capture, the elephant had caused significant destruction, attacking numerous people, damaging crops, and destroying thousands of houses.

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