Kamala (elephant)

Kamala was a female Asian elephant that lived in Calgary Zoo from 1976 to 2014, and then in the United States National Zoological Park until her death in 2024. Kamala was known for her paintings, which were sold by the Calgary Zoo to support their programs. She received treatment for osteoarthritis throughout her stay in the United States.
Five years after her arrival at Calgary Zoo, Kamala and her fellow elephants Bandara and Swarna each weighed about 900 kg (2,000 lb). By 1991, Kamala had grown to weigh 3,010 kg (6,640 lb).
She was described by zookeepers as having a "playful" and active personality. In 1980, she knew about 25 commands. According to her keeper at Calgary Zoo, Kamala's favourite colour was purple and she appeared to be "quite aware and particularly proud of her artistic endeavours". She was described by the National Zoological Park as having "strong bonds" with her keepers, and would rumble and squeak when they approached, showing excitement.
Kamala was born in the wild in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, around 1975, and was taken care of by the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage after she was orphaned at the age of five months. In 1976, she was sent to the Calgary Zoo in Canada. They had purchased her from the orphanage alongside a bull, Bandara, and another female, Swarna. At the time of their arrival, the trio made up the largest group of Sri Lankan elephants in North America. While residing at Calgary Zoo, she gave birth to three calves, two of which survived. Calvin, a male, was born in June 1986 and weighed 293 lb (133 kg), while Maharani, a female, was born in 1990 and weighed 150 kg (330 lb). Their father was Bandara. Calvin was the first Sri Lankan elephant to be born in captivity outside Sri Lanka. During her time in Calgary, she also became known for her paintings, and was featured in episodes of 60 Minutes and PrimeTime Live. The only one of the zoo's elephants to accept paintbrushes when offered, Kamala created over 60 original paintings that were sold (or auctioned) at prices ranging from $400 to $1,500. Prints were sold in the zoo's gift shop, and the money was used to support the zoo's environmental research. Using custom brushes and a variety of colours of acrylic paint, It took Kamala fifteen minutes to make each painting. The process was filmed to allow customers to see her at work. She made about one painting per week. In 2005, after a tsunami hit Sri Lanka, the Calgary Zoo sold one of Kamala's paintings on eBay for $6,350. The money was donated to the Red Cross's tsunami relief fund.
In 1991, it was reported that the pads of Kamala's feet were thinning due to her active lifestyle and possibly as a result of the damp concrete she walked on. Zookeepers attempted to make boots for her on several occasions, but Kamala removed and occasionally consumed the boots, sometimes with the help of Maharani. Her keepers finally settled on a custom made set of knee-high leather boots. The boots cost $300 and took over 120 hours to make.
In 2004, Kamala's daughter, Maharani, gave birth to Kamala's grandchild, a female elephant posthumously named Keemaya. Kamala and Maharani rejected her shortly after birth, with Maharani displaying confusion and aggression. The baby was given blood transfusions and antibiotics to help her fight an infection, but she died soon after birth. Maharani would have no other surviving children. Zookeepers voiced the idea of breeding Kamala again, so Maharani would have a role model. They unsuccessfully bred her with Spike, Maharani's former mate. Maharani had another calf, Malti, in 2007, but Malti died at the age of 14 months from complications related to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus.
During the 2013 Alberta floods many animals at Calgary Zoo were evacuated from their enclosures or moved to higher locations. Due to the size and sturdiness of elephants, zookeepers made the decision to leave them in their pens. The pens were flooded, but the elephants, including Kamala, were unharmed.
In 2014, Kamala was moved to the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., alongside her herd mates Swarna and Maharani. When arriving there, her gait was shifted due to her front legs being knock-kneed and her back legs bowing out, making her predisposed to osteoarthritis. While at the National Zoological Park, she received treatments for osteoarthritis, including anti-inflammatories, joint supplements, and monthly injections aimed at improving her joint health by breaking cartilage and connective tissues. She voluntarily participated in training sessions and physical therapy.
Kamala's condition declined in 2024, with her range of motion becoming more restricted, leading her to stay more often in the same place. She was euthanized on November 2, 2024. She was estimated to be around 50 years old at the time of her death, an age described as "advanced" by the zoo's staff. After her death, the zoo's other Asian elephants were allowed to spend time alongside her body, with Swarna and Maharani being the last to visit her. An elephant with the same first name as Kamala Harris being euthanized three days prior to the 2024 United States presidential election became an internet meme or joke about a "bad omen" for the Democratic candidate.