Legends with names

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Kandula (Kelaniya) A tusker of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, gifted by Thailand more than 20 years ago when he was about nine years old. He walks in major processions…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Kataragama Devalaya Kataragama Wasana The tusker of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, bought in 1977 by former minister Vimala Kannangara and gifted to the Devalaya. He has carried the Sacred Tooth Relic…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Galgamuwa · 16 October 2026 Kawanthissa Kawanthissa (also spelt Kavantissa) was a huge wild tusker of the Galgamuwa area in Kurunegala District, about 11 feet tall with tusks over six feet long, and was…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Minneriya · 2024 Koliya Koliya was a young tusker of Minneriya National Park who usually moved with the long-tusked bull Sumedha. He was shot in 2024, and his decomposed body was found…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala · 2009 (carcass found 23 August 2009) Kublai Khan Kublai Khan was a photogenic Yala tusker named after the Mongol emperor. Wildlife photographer Lal Anthonis first saw him in December 1987 near Patanangala, when he was about…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1965 – Kumari Kumari is a wild-born female who was one of the five orphans with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. With the bull Vijaya she produced the…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Sri Lankan elephant abroad · about 1975 – Lucy Lucy is a female elephant born in the wild in Sri Lanka and orphaned, who came through the Pinnawala orphanage and arrived at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Temple tusker · Muthiyangana Vihara · September 2024 Madhu (Muthiyangana) A 28-year-old tusker of the Muthiyangana Rajamaha Vihara in Mahiyangana, donated in 1999 by former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. He took part in peraheras at the Sri Dalada…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala Maha Poottuwa Maha Poottuwa ('the big crossed one') was a cross-tusked bull of Yala Block I; his right tusk crossed over his left. He first appeared in the late 1950s…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Minneriya Mahasen Mahasen is a giant cross-tusked wild tusker, reported in 2017 to be about 12 feet tall with tusks about six feet long; he is sometimes called "Kathira Dala…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial elephant · Dalada Maligawa Maitri An elephant picked from the Udawalawe elephant transit home (Eth Athuru Sevana) and gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1999. In 2017 he…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Sri Lankan elephant abroad · 28 November 2023 Mali (Vishwamali) Mali, formally Vishwamali, was a female elephant found orphaned in the Sri Lankan wild and sent by Sri Lanka in 1977, at about three years old, as a…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · 1988 Maligawa Raja The most famous of the Temple of the Tooth's tuskers. He carried the golden relic casket at the Esala Perahera for 34 years, from 1953 to 1986. When…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Temple elephant · Bellanwila · 6 October 2025 Manika An elephant of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya near Colombo who took part in the temple's annual perahera and its rituals for many years and became a well-loved part…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1970 – Mathali Mathali (also written Matali) is a wild-born female and one of the five orphans with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. With Vijaya she is recorded…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Migara One of the eight tuskers belonging to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in 2017. That year the Maligawa said Migara would not be available during the perahera season, adding…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · 29 June 2020 Millangoda Podi Raja (Jayanthi) A tusker owned by S.R.S. Millangoda, who bought him at about four years old at a public auction at the Dehiwala Zoo in 1956; his official name, Jayanthi,…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · privately owned · about 1938 – 2011 Millangoda Raja A privately owned tusker of the Millangoda family of Molagoda, Kegalle, captured as a young elephant in 1945 in the Puttalam district. He was famous for tusks of…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala · 19 April 2018 Missaka Missaka was a 35-year-old tusker regarded as an icon of Yala National Park, with tusks about three feet long. He was found injured on 15 April 2018 near…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Udawalawe · December 2018 Mugalan Mugalan was a young tusker, about 10–12 years old, who regularly visited Udawalawe National Park and was often driven back into the park by wildlife officers after straying…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Thai gift tusker Muthu Raja (Sak Surin) Muthu Raja, known in his birthplace Thailand as Sak Surin, is a Thai tusker gifted by the Thai government to Sri Lanka in 2001 and later given to…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Temple tusker · Bellanwila Myan Kumara A tusker gifted by the government of Myanmar to the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya in 2013, when he was about seven. He has walked in the Kandy Esala Perahera…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Dalada Maligawa Myan Raja One of two tuskers gifted by Myanmar that joined the Sri Dalada Maligawa herd in 2007. By 2017 he had been trained to carry the golden relic casket…

Ceremonial tusker · 1953 – 7 March 2022 Nadungamuwa Raja A ceremonial tusker who carried the golden casket of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Kandy Esala Perahera most years from 2006 to 2021. At about 3.2 m…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Orphan · Elephant Transit Home Namal Namal is a male elephant at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home (Ath Athuru Sevana). He was brought in as a calf with his left hind leg caught in…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Wild tusker · Yala Nandimithra A wild tusker that ranges between Yala and the forests of Sithulpawwa. In January 2017 Yala rangers had to tranquillise and free him after his trunk became trapped…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Ceremonial tusker · Gangaramaya · India – 8 July 2011 Navam Raja A tusker from India, one of two calves the Maharaja of Mysore gave to a Sri Lankan physician-monk; the other calf became Nadungamuwa Raja. He later came to…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · about 1964 – Neela Neela is a wild-born male and one of the five orphaned elephants with which the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage opened in 1975. The Elephant Database lists him among Pinnawala's…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Neelamani Neelamani is a female calf born at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to the mother Rajina and the bull Pandu. She was named at the same January 2022 ceremony…

A photo of a Sri Lankan Elephant — not this animal

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage · 5 May 2004 – Pandu Pandu is a male elephant born on 5 May 2004 at Chettikulam, Vavuniya, who was brought to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on 26 September 2004. He is the…