16 Novemeber 2018: In a jumbo leap for wildlife protection in India, Conservation NGO – Wildlife SOS has established India’s first and only fully equipped Elephant Hospital in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. The hospital has 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. The hospital is located near Agra, in the Farah block of Mathura near the Elephant Conservation and Care Center (ECCC) run by Wildlife SOS.
The Elephant Hospital was inaugurated by the Commissioner of Agra, Shri Anil Kumar, IAS on 16th November with the District Magistrate, Mathura- Shri Sarvagya Ram Mishra, IAS, Founder, Help Age- Sri Mukesh Jain, Member, Supreme Court, MC- Shri Raman. Senior Forest Officers from U.P. Forest Department CF Agra Shri Javed Akhtar, IFS, DFO Mathura Shri Arvind Kumar, IFS and DCF Chambal Shri Anand Kumar, IFS were also present.
Wildlife SOS founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani welcomed the Commissioner to the opening ceremony, where he inaugurated the Hospital. The Wildlife SOS team then gave a tour of the Elephant Hospital to the Commissioner and visiting dignitaries.
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. An observation deck will allow veterinary students and interns to observe and learn elephant treatment routines from a safe distance.
India’s first elephant hospital is jumbo sized with a built-up area of nearly twelve thousand square feet with observation area for overnight monitoring of elephants under treatment using Close Circuit Infra-Red CCTV cameras. Training courses will be organized by Wildlife SOS to spread knowledge on elephant medical care, humane elephant management and veterinary procedures to spread compassion.
Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development said, “It is a matter of great pride that the welfare and care of India’s magnificent heritage animal is finally getting the attention it deserves. I congratulate the Chief Wildlife Warden of UP and the Forest Dept for collaborating with Wildlife SOS to establish this wonderful hospital to cater to the needs of elephants in distress, with compassion and care.”
M S Negi, IFS – ADG (Wildlife), MOEF, Govt. of India said, “I congratulate Wildlife SOS and the UP Forest Department on establishing the first elephant Hospital of the country. I wish all the success to this noble initiative.”
Soumitra Dasgupta, IFS – IG (Wildlife), MOEF, Govt. of India, said “Today is an important day for elephants as India’s first and only elephant hospital is being inaugurated in Mathura. Elephant conservation is a big issue in India and it is the need of the hour to have such a hospital in place, catering to elephants who are sick and in distress. I congratulate Wildlife SOS and the UP Forest Department for their commendable work!”
Noyal Thomas, IFS – IG (Project Elephant), MOEF, Govt. of India said, “I am happy to learn that this facility will provide specialised veterinary care and treatment to elephants and I hope that this hospital will be model example for other states to follow.”
Anil Kumar, IAS – Commissioner Agra said “Agra now has one more reason to be world famous with India’s first and only Elephant Hospital in addition to the Taj Mahal. I am happy to extend my support to Wildlife SOS and I hope they continue to work towards helping elephants in need.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder & 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. We hope this hospital will put India on the map as a scholarly destination for humane management of elephants which will go a long way to address the protection and conservation of elephants in India!”
Geeta Seshamani, co-founder & Secretary Wildlife SOS said, “Our dedicated team of veterinarians and trained elephant care staff work round the clock to cater to the needs of rescued elephants requiring medical care. Seeing the spiked chains cut away from elephant Raju and his rescue from 50 years of slavery was a heartbreaking revelation in July 2014. While the past cannot be changed, a dedicated hospital will support the Wildlife SOS team in their important work healing the wounds and giving the majestic elephants in their care and others that will find their way here a better quality of life that is truly deserved.”
Wildlife SOS established the first Elephant Conservation and Care Center (ECCC) in 2010 which is currently providing lifetime care and treatment for over 20 rehabilitated pachyderms, rescued from illegal captivity and circuses where they were ill-treated and subjected to cruelty. Today, the ECCC is a living, breathing model of humane elephant care and treatment and a result of a collaboration between Wildlife SOS and the State Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh. The Elephant Hospital was built entirely with private donations and CSR support.
About Wildlife SOS (WSOS)
Wildlife SOS is a non-profit charity established in 1998 by founders Kartick Satyanarayan and Geeta Seshamani with the primary objective of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress across India. Today, WSOS actively runs wildlife and nature protection projects to promote conservation, combat poaching and fight illegal wildlife trade. WSOS works in partnership with the Government and indigenous communities to create sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile poacher communities. The Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Center was established in 2010 and houses over 20 elephants with elephant care facilities.
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