SAFE HAVEN FOR ELEPHANTS

With more than 3000 elephants in illegal captivity, India’s first elephant hospital, not far from the famous Taj Mahal, is a boon for these long ill treated pachyderms. While elephants are revered in the Indian culture they are also widely used for tourist rides, begging on streets, circus and religious festivals. Spread over an area of 1,100m2 the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre is home to 22 elephants recused from different parts of the country. With each elephant having suffered brutal abuse for domestication, this little sanctuary is where they live in peace. Each morning, the elephants are taken for a long walk on the banks of the Yamuna River by their handlers. Once back, they are given a bath and each elephant receives a bucket of their favourite fruits, usually, freshly chopped watermelons, bananas or papayas. Then around noon the resident vet visits and treats the ones in need of medical attention. Around late afternoon they are again taken for a walk, followed either by a dip in the river or a specialised hydrotherapy bath. (Shot on assignment for Etihad Airways's inflight magazine Atlas)