Rescued From Abuse, India's Skinniest Elephant, Lakshmi Starts A New Life On New Year

New Year comes with new hopes and better days ahead, this is exactly what Lakshmi is looking forward to.

Though she might not realise that it is a new year, she will definitely notice how things have changed around her from now on.

Wildlife SOS

That is because the former begging elephant from Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh will spend the rest of her life in the care of Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital and Conservation and Care Center in Mathura¡ª the first of its kind in India.

Dubbed as "India's Skinniest Elephant", Lakshmi, who is suffering from severe lameness, arthritis, chronic accesses and degenerative joint disease is getting a second chance at life, in the safe and nurturing environment of Wildlife SOS' Elephant Hospital.

Wildlife SOS

The crippled elephant aged around 25 to 30 years old has been allegedly used for street begging and subjected to starvation, abuse and neglect by her owners. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department took action and seized the elephant on the complaint of a local animal lover earlier this month.

The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh seized Lakshmi from her owners seeing her deteriorating health and critical condition and are in the process of initiating legal action against the owners.

Wildlife SOS

The elephant which was in the custody of the Forest Department was brought to the rehabilitation facility following a court order on the same.

A team of experts including Veterinarians, elephant care staff from Wildlife SOS travelled to Chhatarpur where they had to win her trust and friendship first, before giving her the necessary medical attention.

According to Veterinarians, Lakshmi is suffering from critical ailments apart from her visibly emaciated body. Conspicuous bony projlong-termndicating prolonged starvation, abnormal spinal protrusions, bent knees and abnormally deviated limbs are a shocking sight that are unbecoming of an elephant. These morphological features indicate the extensive abuse and severe neglect and malnutrition she has been subjected to for decades.

Wildlife SOS

"The elephant's abnormal posture and handicap require long-term medical treatment with monitoring. The presence of painful abscesses on hips and wounds on her ears have been caused by ankush (bull hook) and indicate cruelty and severe abuse," Dr. S Ilayaraja, Deputy Director - Veterinary Services, Wildlife SOS, said.

Lakshmi who was transported to Mathura on a specially designed ambulance will undergo medical procedures like Laser Therapy, Digital Wireless Radiology, and Thermal Imaging in the coming days.

According to Wildlife SOS, it is too early to say if and when Lakshmi will make a full recovery, given the extend of the abuse she had suffered.

Wildlife SOS

In addition to the urgently needed medical attention, the animal which suffered years of abuse and loneliness will get a chance to once again socialise with other elephants.

The Mathura facility of Wildlife SOS has many more elephants who have stories similar to that of Lakshmi.

Wildlife SOS

"It is quite shocking to see a severely crippled and emaciated elephant like Lakshmi. She is certainly one of the worst cases we've witnessed. Our veterinary doctors are currently providing on-site treatment to Lakshmi and also on the journey to the Elephant Hospital," Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO and Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said.

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