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Elephants have always been an integral part of Indian Culture. They hold a very special place in the mythology and were also considered as a symbol of royalty. India is home to 50-60% of all of Asia’s wild elephants and 20% of domesticated elephants.
However, Elephants in India are facing a serious threat and problems. So, in a jumbo attempt to preserve elephants, Wildlife OS has launched India’s first and fully equipped hospital dedicated to elephants. The hospital has been started in partnership with Uttar Pradesh forest department is located near Agra, in the Farah block of Mathura near the Elephant Conservation and Care Center (ECCC) run by Wildlife SOS.
Major Problems
Elephants in India face a variety of problems. Due to an increase in industrialization, they are losing their habitats. Many are used in the entertainment industry and are intricately associated with human life. The species has also been extensively hunted and killed for their prized ivory tuskers. The lack of medical facilities also makes their survival difficult.
The hospital is opened for addressing human-elephant conflict issues and improving the welfare of domesticated elephants was also a central part of the organisation's brief.
Modern Facilities
The Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital is designed to treat injured, sick or geriatric elephants and is equipped with a medical hoist for lifting elephants requiring critical care, a pathology laboratory, digital weighing scale, Elephant Restraining Device (ERD) with a dedicated indoor treatment enclosure for longer medical procedures.
The hospital has also modern medical facilities for treatment of injured elephants in distress like Wireless Digital X-Ray, Laser Treatment, Dental X-Ray, Thermal imaging, Ultrasonography, Hydrotherapy, Tranquilization Equipment and Quarantine facilities.
It is spread across an area of nearly 12,000 square feet with an observation area for overnight monitoring of elephants under treatment using Close Circuit Infra-Red CCTV cameras.
Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO Wildlife SOS said, "This is a huge milestone for elephant protection in India. This hospital will help us take better care of injured elephants in distress."
Training
Along with medical facilities, Training courses will also be organized by Wildlife SOS. The course will help in spreading awareness and knowledge on elephant medical care, humane elephant management and veterinary procedures.
