This baby elephant did not take naturally to the water when she went for a dip in a Thai swimming pool.
The calf took a tentative splash in a pool at a veterinary clinic on Thursday as part of a lengthy rehabilitation process to heal her injured foot.
Baby Fah Jam was three months old when her front left leg was caught in a trap set by villagers in Chanthaburi province, 155 miles southeast of the capital, Bangkok.
Six-month-old baby elephant ‘Clear Sky’ tries to stay afloat at the beginning of a hydrotherapy session at a local veterinary clinic in Chonburi Province, Thailand
Veterinarian Padet Siridumrong said Fah Jam, who is now five months old, was showing signs of improvement following initial water-based exercises known as hydrotherapy.
After losing part of her left foot in a s.nare at three months old, the baby elephant is now learning to walk again in waterVeterinarian Padet Siridumrong said Fah Jam, who is now five months old, was showing signs of improvement following initial water-based exercisesDuring her hydrotherapy sessions, she is kept afloat by a harness as her guardians at the clinic help her to find her feet again
Here ‘Clear Sky’ looks out from the back of a truck at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden tourist park before she was transported to the veterinary cli.nic
After losing part of her left foot in a s.nare, the baby elephant, whose name translates as ‘Clear Sky’, is now learning to walk again – in the water.
The six-month-old is the first elephant to receive hydrotherapy at an animal hospital in Chonburi province, a few hours from Bangkok.
The goal is to strengthen the withered muscles in her front leg, which was wo.unded three months ago in an animal trap laid by villagers to protect their crops.
‘By her fourth or fifth sessions, she will enjoy swimming more. She’s just a baby, that’s why she’s a bit scared at first but, by nature, elephants love the water,’ Padet said.
The treatment could take up to two months, he added.
The six-month-old is the first elephant to receive hydrotherapy treatment at the animal hospital in Chonburi province, which is a few hours from Bangkok
After losing part of her left foot in a s.nare, the baby elephant, whose name in Thai is Fah Jam, is being cared for by humansHappier out of the water, Clear Sky stands on her hind legs in her corral at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden park
The goal of her hydrotherapy treatment is to strengthen the withered muscles in her front leg, which was wo.unded three months ago in an animal trap laid by villagers to protect their cropsVeterinarian Padet Siridumrong tends to the elephant’s injured leg after a hydrotherapy session, while she enjoys a bottle of milk from one of her guardians
The elephant is a symbol of Thailand and in ancient times they were used to carry soldiers into bat.tle. They were also used in the logging industry.
Although she was initially nervous in the pool, she later relaxed with the help of her human handlersAlthough she was initially nervous in the pool, she later relaxed with the help of her human handlersAll done! A clean and dry Clear Sky stands next to one of her guardians after completing her treatment session in the pool
In this picture, Clear Sky is reaching out with her trunk from her enclosure at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden tourist park before she was taken to the clinicClear Sky rests her head on the shoulder of one of her guardians during a short break in a hydrotherapy session as she finally appears to have got used to the waterClear Sky rests her head on the shoulder of one of her guardians during a short break in a hydrotherapy session as she finally appears to have got used to the waterHer treatment session was also an opportunity for bath time, and here she gets her head scrubbed with a brush at the end
But logging has been banned and many domesticated elephants have ended up on the tourist trail, giving rides and putting on displays in shows.
Animal rights groups have criticized the use of elephants in the tourism industry, arguing that animals are often mistreated.
There are about 3,700 elephants left in the wild in Thailand and up to 4,000 domesticated ones, according to EleAid, a British organization working for the conservation of the Asian elephant.
Deforestation, rapid urbanization, and poaching of elephants for their ivory have all contributed to a dramatic decline in the wild elephant population.
‘Clear Sky’ is kept afloat by a harness during a hydrotherapy session at a local veterinary clinic in Chonburi Province‘Clear Sky’ walks with the help of a boot on her injured leg at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden tourist park
