The Elephant Conservation & Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures can soar up to a sizzling 47 degrees Celsius, has found a refreshing way to help their 28 resident elephants beat the summer heat.
The team at ECCC has ingeniously installed Jumbo-sized swimming pools and water sprinklers to create cool zones within the spacious enclosures for these majestic animals.
Each pool measures a substantial 400-square-feet and is 6-feet-deep, accommodating one to two elephants comfortably. Special inclined ramps make pool access easy for the animals.
Elderly elephants like Suzy, Asha, Raju, Rhea, and Mia enjoy peaceful relaxation in the water. On the other hand, the youthful and spirited ones, like Peanut, Coconut, Wally, Laxmi, and Chanchal, delight in diving, playing with rubber tires, and just being downright playful in their pools.
Apart from providing much-needed relief from the heat, the water’s buoyancy alleviates the enormous weight from the elephants’ feet, offering them a relaxing escape.
The fun doesn’t stop at the pools. The elephants’ excitement peaks when they visit the Yamuna River, where they indulge in underwater acrobatics, frolicking, and water-spraying to their heart’s content.
Their caregivers frequently lure them back to the Centre with tempting treats and green fodder, owing to their sheer enjoyment of the river.
The Centre also features India’s inaugural Jumbo Hydrotherapy pool at the Elephant Hospital. Hydrotherapy – a physical therapy using water’s therapeutic benefits – is an effective supplementary treatment for elephants’ joints and feet.
This therapy can alleviate chronic aches and help rebuild muscle memory due to the water’s natural resistance.
Now enjoying a comfortable life at Wildlife SOS, these elephants were rescued from distressing conditions such as circus performances, tourist rides, street begging, and participation in wedding processions.
Captivity had denied them necessities, leading to health issues like arthritis, overgrown toenails, and cracked cuticles.
At ECCC, summer diets for these elephants comprise seasonal fruits like watermelons and cucumbers to ensure they remain hydrated.
Measures to prevent heat strokes and dehydration include their dedicated care staff’s daily administration of glucose water, electrolyte solutions, and herbal medication.
The painful past may be irreversible, but the committed team of veterinarians and trained elephant care staff at ECCC are dedicated to providing a caring environment for these magnificent creatures.
