The legendary Mudumalai elephant named Rivaldo has died, confirmed Forest Department officials. The tusker, about 50 years old, lived near Sigur plateau in the Segur forest range. Rivaldo had been sick for several days and carried wounds from fights with other elephants. Despite treatment efforts, he passed away on Friday afternoon, February 13, 2026. Rivaldo was famous for his grand tusks and peaceful behavior toward people living in Vazhaithottam and Bokkapuram. He never attacked humans despite close living quarters with villagers. Years ago, some wanted to make him a captive elephant because he raided homes for food. But conservationists, supported by former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, rescued Rivaldo and released him back into the wild. The Forest Department then tried to re-wild him by releasing him 20 km away from his usual home. However, Rivaldo returned quickly to his home area, showing his strong bond with the region and other elephants there. Priya Davidar, a conservation biologist who knew Rivaldo for 15 years, said he was nearing old age but regularly left to find mates. "It is a huge loss from a conservation standpoint, in that he brought in so much attention to the elephants of the Sigur," she told The Hindu. Davidar also mentioned Rivaldo’s close bond with a group of six elephants. Conservationists now call on the government to improve elephant treatment protocols and keep veterinary teams ready in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. "This region is home to only around 5,000 Asian elephants – and every animal counts. It is important that efforts are made to treat elephants, especially male elephants, whenever possible," a conservationist said. Rivaldo’s death highlights the need for better care and protection of these majestic giants.