After spending nearly fifty years in captivity, begging elephant Mohan finally had a chance at freedom, when he was rescued by Wildlife SOS earlier this year. Today, this majestic pachyderm celebrates his first Christmas at the organisation’s Elephant Conservation & Care Centre in Mathura, India.
Formerly known as the world’s unluckiest elephant, Mohan has come a long way in the few short months since his much awaited rescue.
Forced to work as a begging elephant, Mohan was made to carry heavy loads on his back and sometimes even put on display at temples or ceremonies due to his majestic tusks. Decades of overwork, abuse and neglect had left him with severe psychological trauma as well as physiological ailments, which are evident from the countless scars and puncture wounds across his severely malnourished body.
Dr. Akshay Mohan, Wildlife SOS veterinarian said, “The terrible abuse faced by Mohan has had a detrimental effect on his health. His feet are in a terrible state and as part of his on-going treatment, we are giving him relaxing medicated footbaths every day, which not only helps ease the pain but also disinfects the wounds on his feet. This is accompanied by trimming of his cracked nails and overgrown cuticles.”
Since his arrival at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation & Care Centre, Mohan has adjusted well to his new surroundings and is enjoying a much deserved life of freedom along with fellow pachyderms! In keeping with the festive season, the wildlife conservation NGO ensured that Mohan did not miss out on the special Christmas celebrations in his new home. Christmas came a little early at Wildlife SOS this year and the lovable jumbo woke up to a wonderful surprise. As he was heading out for his morning walk, Mohan came across a rather festive surprise, finding the trees lining the path decorated with stars and a giant elephant-appropriate stocking filled with his favourite treats!
“It is truly heart-warming to see Mohan taking his first steps towards the road to recovery. He has recently developed a fondness for the elephant pool and he loves expressing his delight by splashing water. He enjoys taking dust baths and going on walks across the vast open fields at the centre” said Geeta Seshamani, co-founder Wildlife SOS.
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder Wildlife SOS said, “Our dedicated team of veterinarians and keepers are working tirelessly to ensure he gets the love and care he truly deserves. Though it will take a considerable amount of time for Mohan to fully recover from all the pain and trauma that he has faced in the past, we’re committed to helping him overcome these problems one step at a time.”
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Rescued begging elephant Mohan celebrates his first Chirstmas with Wildlife SOS
The lovable jumbo was surprised to receive his very own Christmas stocking!
An early Christmas present for a very special elephant! He was delighted to find his favorite treats inside the giant stocking
