Shankar, the only African elephant at Delhi Zoo, passed away on September 17, 2023, after a life marked by isolation and loneliness. The 29-year-old male elephant’s death was initially shrouded in mystery, but an autopsy has now revealed the cause: encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a rare rodent-borne pathogen. The virus, which causes fatal inflammation of the heart and sometimes brain fever in mammals, is transmitted through rodent feces and urine. According to Delhi Zoo director Sanjeet Kumar, this is the first recorded death in India attributed to EMCV, though unreported cases may exist. The virus, first isolated in 1945, has been documented in various mammals, including pigs, rodents, big cats, and African elephants. Outbreaks have occurred globally, with captive African elephants particularly affected in the US and South Africa. Shankar’s death has reignited concerns about the welfare of captive animals in India. He was one of two African elephants gifted to India by Zimbabwe in 1998 as a diplomatic gesture. After his companion died in 2001, Shankar lived in isolation, despite a 2009 federal ban on keeping elephants alone for more than six months. Activists had long campaigned for his relocation to a wildlife sanctuary, but a 2021 petition to Delhi’s High Court was dismissed. With Shankar’s passing, only one African elephant remains in India—a solitary male at Mysore Zoo. His death underscores the need for improved animal welfare standards and the risks posed by rare diseases in captive environments.