Legends with names

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala Anuradha Anuradha is a tusker of Yala National Park, recognised by his unusually large head and relatively short tusks. Jetwing Eco Holidays notes his bad temper and calls him…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Udawalawe Asoka Asoka (also written Ashoka) was one of the four mature tuskers known in Udawalawe National Park, alongside Walawe Raja, Sumedha and the Kalthota tusker. He was found dead…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Gangaramaya Athula Raja A tusker of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple, first owned by 'Anton Appo', the Basnayake Nilame of the Ratnapura Saman Devale. Tall even when young, he was described as…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Dehiwala Zoo tusker · September 2022 Bandula Bandula was a tusker and the oldest elephant at the Dehiwala Zoo. He was taken in by wildlife officers as a young calf that had become separated from…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · 26 July 2022 Barana Barana (also spelt Bharana) was a regal tusker of about 35 years with tusks about four feet long, often seen around Kalawewa National Park and Namal Uyana, where…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · 15 July 2025 Bathiya Bathiya (also spelt Bhathiya) was a well-built wild tusker of the Kalawewa and Polpithigama forests, roughly 30 to 35 years old and popular with photographers. In mid-2025 he…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ridiyagama Safari Park (former) Bhanu Bhanu is a tusker said to have been gifted to the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya. In October 2016 wildlife officers took him into custody because no acceptable proof…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild female elephant · Yala Biso Biso was an older female of Yala and the namesake of the Biso group, a herd of about 20–25 elephants studied by the Centre for Conservation and Research.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild female elephant · Yala Biso-Menike Biso-Menike is a female of Yala's Biso group, presumed to be the daughter of Biso, and was fitted with a radio collar by researchers of the Centre for…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Udawalawe Bullet (Senadi) Bullet, also called Senadi, is a young tusker released into Udawalawe National Park by the Elephant Transit Home; in 2013 he was described as 10–12 years old. He…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Burma Raja A tusker gifted by Myanmar who has been part of the Sri Dalada Maligawa herd since 2007. In the Kandy Esala Perahera he has walked beside Indi Raja,…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala · April 2023 Dala Kota Dala Kota was described as the biggest tusker in Yala National Park and drew many tourists; he lived mostly in Zone 6 and stood about eight and a…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 2017 Dala Puttuwa Dala Puttuwa was a much-loved wild tusker of the Galgamuwa area, named for his crossed tusks. He had poor eyesight and was often seen out in the open;…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Kala Wewa · November 2024 Deega Danthu 1 Deega Danthu 1 (also spelt Deegadanthu or Dheeghadanthu) had the longest tusks among the tuskers of Kala Wewa and was described as about 45 to 50 years old…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild female elephant · Yala Devi Devi was a female of Yala's Gemunu group and the mother of the famous tusker Gemunu, who was born around 1988–1990. Researchers at the Centre for Conservation and…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · August 2021 – Disa Disa (also written Dissa) is one of the male twins born to Surangi at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in August 2021, the first twin elephant births recorded there;…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Ekadantha A one-tusked elephant, described as the most docile tusker in the Sri Dalada Maligawa stables. In 1977, when three Pinnawala tuskers were put up for sale, former Health…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · North Central Gajaba Gajaba was described in a 2020 Mongabay photo essay as the largest wild tusker in Sri Lanka, standing an estimated 3.1 m at the shoulder. He lives in…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · July 2024 Galgamuwe Chandi Galgamuwe Chandi, also called Eka Danthaya ("the single-tusked one"), was a wild tusker from Ehetuwewa in the Galgamuwa area. Wildlife officials moved him away several times, to Somawathiya…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala · c. 1991 – Gemunu Yala's best-known wild bull, named after King Dutugemunu and usually seen in Block 1 and along the Sithulpawwa road. He became famous — and controversial — for walking…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala Genghis Khan Genghis Khan was a large Yala tusker. Wildlife photographer Lal Anthonis saw him in August 1987 and describes him as much older and bigger than Kublai Khan; the…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · about 1924 – 6 November 2002 Heiyantuduwa Raja A tusker captured in the Hambantota district and bought at auction in 1945 by William Gunasekara of Heiyantuduwa, Biyagama; he was later owned by Henry Gunasekara of Kandy.…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa · about 1980 (India) – Indi Raja An Indian-born tusker (originally called Basheer) gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the late 1980s; he was chosen at the Mudumalai…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial elephant · Dalada Maligawa · Dehiwala Zoo – Janaraja An elephant born at the Dehiwala Zoo and presented to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President J.R. Jayewardene in 1985. In 2017 he was described as the most…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Sri Lankan elephant abroad Kaavan Kaavan is a male elephant that Sri Lanka's government under President J.R. Jayewardene gifted to Pakistan in 1985 as a baby. He lived at the Islamabad zoo, from…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild bull · Yala Kabila (Thani Dalaya) Kabila, also called Thani Dalaya ('the single tusker'), is a young bull of the Sithulpawwa area of Yala. In June 2017 he was reported to have fatally wounded…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Kadira A tusker bought for 25,000 rupees by the late Diyawadana Nilame Nissanka Wijeratne with his own money and gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa, so that the tusker…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ridiyagama Safari Park Kalana Kalana is an elephant belonging to the historic Devinuwara Sri Upulvan Devalaya. In September 2018 the Department of Wildlife Conservation took him to the Ridiyagama Safari Park for…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Udawalawe Kalthota Tusker (Kalthota Raja) The Kalthota tusker, also called Kalthota Raja, was named as one of the four mature tuskers seen in Udawalawe National Park around 2010, together with Walawe Raja, Sumedha…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Historic ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Kanda The lifelong companion of the famous Maligawa Raja. Tikiri Banda Mampitiya Disawa of Giragama Walauwa bought the two young tuskers together in December 1925 from the merchant Ummeru…