:Kongad Kuttisankaran
{{short description|Famous elephant which lived in Kerala}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Kongad Kuttisankaran
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| species = Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant)
| breed =
| gender = Male
| birth_date = {{circa|1962}}
| birth_place = Nilambur, Kerala
| death_date = {{Death date and age|26 July 2020|1962}}
| death_place =
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| nationality = India
| occupation =
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| years_active =
| known = Thrissur Pooram, Poorams
| predecessor =
| successor =
| owner = Kongad Thirumandamkunnu temple
| weight =
| height = {{height|m=3.09|precision=0}}
| namedafter = chinnakuttan nair ( kuttishankaran nair)
| website =
}}
Gajarajan Kongad Kuttisankaran ({{circa}} 1962 — 26 July 2020) was an elephant that lived in Kongad, Palakkad, Kerala.{{Cite web|last=ഹരിഗോവിന്ദന്‍|first=-വി|title=നാടിന്റെ അഭിമാനമായി കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരന്‍|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/features/elephants/article-1.555520|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113000711/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/features/elephants/article-1.555520|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Kongad Kuttysankaran back to festival grounds|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/offbeat/kongad-kuttysankaran-back-to-festival-grounds-english-news-1.555847|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=2021-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121035950/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/offbeat/kongad-kuttysankaran-back-to-festival-grounds-english-news-1.555847|url-status=dead}} He is one among the few native elephants born in Kerala to have a height of more than 309 cm.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Kogadu Kuttysankaran {{!}}കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ ചരിഞ്ഞു; ഓർമയാകുന്നത് നാട്ടാനച്ചന്തത്തിന്റെ തിടമ്പേറ്റിയ ഗജവീരൻ|url=https://malayalam.news18.com/amp/news/kerala/elephant-kongad-kuttisankaran-died-palakkad-aa-264035.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-11|website=malayalam.news18.com}}
Kuttisankaran was born at the Nilambur Forest.{{Cite web|title=പ്രശസ്ത നാട്ടാന കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ ചരിഞ്ഞു {{!}} kongad kuttishankaran passed away|url=https://www.asianetnews.com/amp/kerala-news/kongad-kuttishankaran-passed-away-qe2nhp|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.asianetnews.com}} After leaving the forest at a very young age, he was offered to the Kongad Thirumandhamkunnu temple in 1969.{{Cite web|title=കരിയഴകിന്റെ കുലപതി, ആണത്തത്തിന്റെ അതുല്യ തേജസ്സ്; കണ്ണീരോർമയായി കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ, ഓർമക്കുറിപ്പ്|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/environment/environment-news/2020/07/27/tusker-kongad-kuttisankaran-dies-at-58.html|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.manoramaonline.com}} He has won the titles of Adyan Thampuran, Ibhakula Chakravarti and Gajarajan.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-26|title=കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരന്‍ ചരിഞ്ഞു {{!}} Kairali News {{!}} kairalinewsonline.com|url=https://www.kairalinewsonline.com/2020/07/26/337859.html|access-date=2021-01-11|language=en-US}} Kuttisankaran was one of the most famous elephants in the folklore of Kerala.{{cite book |last1=Scigliano |first1=Eric |title=Love, War and Circuses: The Age Old Relationship Between Elephants and Humans |date=2004 |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=978-0-7475-6925-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUZVPAAACAAJ |access-date=11 May 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=ഗജവീരന്‍ കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരന്‍ ഇനി ഓർമ്മ; ചരിഞ്ഞത് ലക്ഷണമൊത്ത കൊമ്പൻ|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/local-news/palakkad/kerala-tusker-kongad-kuttisankaran-dies-at-the-age-of-53/articleshow/77184324.cms|access-date=2021-01-11|website=malayalam.samayam.com|language=ml}} According to experts from Madangasastram, he was characterized by 18 claws, a protruding trunk, a long tail and beautiful eyes. {{Cite web|date=2020-07-26|title=ഗജരാജൻ കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ ചരിഞ്ഞു|url=https://www.sathyamonline.com/kuttysankkaran5525252/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=Sathyam Online|language=en}}
Kuttisankaran was a regular at festivals including Thrissur Pooram, Nemmara Vela, Puthussery Vedi and Mannarkkad Pooram.{{Cite web|title=കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ ചരിഞ്ഞു {{!}} Palakkad {{!}} Kerala {{!}} Deshabhimani {{!}} Monday Jul 27, 2020|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/amp/news/kerala/news-palakkadkerala-27-07-2020/885054|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.deshabhimani.com}} Kuttisankaran last participated in the Mannarkkad Pooram after which he went to treatment for age related problems and months later, he died on 26 July 2020.{{cite news |title=Lack of treatment protocol for TB-hit jumbos |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2020/aug/06/lack-of-treatment-protocol-for-tb-hit-jumbos-2179633.html |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=6 August 2020}}{{Cite web|title=പ്രശസ്ത നാട്ടാന കോങ്ങാട് കുട്ടിശങ്കരൻ ചരിഞ്ഞു|url=https://www.malayalamexpress.in/archives/1309241/|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.malayalamexpress.in}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}