Wildlife SOS Hospital Treats Baby Elephant Injured in Train Accident

Baby elephant 'Bani,' just nine months old, was left paralyzed and injured after a tragic train accident that claimed the life of her mother. Now, she's receiving specialized treatment at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital in Mathura to address her hind leg paralysis.

The hospital is pulling out all the stops to help Bani, enlisting the expertise of an acupuncture specialist from Thailand and Ayurveda experts from Kerala. This marks the first time acupuncture treatment is being administered to elephants in India, utilizing specialized Veterinary Acupuncture equipment.

The Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital is sparing no effort in ensuring Bani's well-being, including enlisting the expertise of an acupuncture specialist from Thailand and Ayurveda experts from Kerala. This marks the first instance of acupuncture treatment being administered to an elephant in India, utilizing specialized Veterinary Acupuncture equipment.

Since Bani's arrival at the hospital, a multidisciplinary team of national and international medical experts has been assembled to provide the best possible care. This team includes orthopedic specialists, neurosurgeons, Ayurveda practitioners, and now, an acupuncture specialist.

Dr. Ilayaraja S, Deputy Director of Wildlife SOS, highlighted the use of electro-acupuncture therapy as part of Bani's comprehensive veterinary care program.

He explained, “Electro-acupuncture therapy harmonizes tradition with technology, using controlled electrical stimulation to modulate neural signaling and orchestrate a symphony of balance and restoration within the body's energetic pathways.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder & CEO of Wildlife SOS, expressed gratitude towards Dr. Rungsri and Chiang Mai University for their contribution to Bani's treatment.

He stated, “After detailed research, our veterinary team decided to include electro-acupuncture in Bani’s routine treatment regime. We thank Dr. Rungsri & the Chiang Mai University for her visit and training to our team. We also brought Ayurveda experts from Kerala to provide specialized Ayurveda treatments for Bani.”

Dr. Porrakote Rungsri, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Chiang Mai University, shared her enthusiasm for being involved in Bani's treatment. She stated, “I’m delighted to be invited by Wildlife SOS for Bani’s treatment. I hope that acupuncture techniques shared by me will be helpful. Baby Bani is strong-willed and cooperated during her acupuncture. This is an opportunity for exchange of veterinary knowledge between India and Thai Veterinary institutions.”

The efforts of the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital underscore a commitment to providing compassionate care and exploring innovative medical solutions to improve the lives of injured animals.