Guwahati, July 5 -- Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to Joymala, one of Kaziranga National Park's most celebrated patrol elephants, following her demise after more than three decades of dedicated service to wildlife conservation.

Describing Joymala as one of Kaziranga's "finest jungle warriors," the Minister said that her life symbolised the silent sacrifices made by patrol elephants that work alongside frontline forest staff in protecting the park's globally renowned biodiversity.

Born in 1960, Joymala was engaged by Kaziranga National Park in 1992 and served the protected area for 34 years.

Throughout her life, she participated in anti-poaching patrols, wildlife monitoring, rescue operatio...