Calm, composed, and ever-so-graceful, Ginger is the perfect ambassador for the incredible care and treatment we provide at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital Campus in Mathura. With her serene demeanour and quiet strength, she has become a living embodiment of hope and healing.
If you’ve ever visited the hospital and witnessed a live demonstration of how we treat rescued elephants, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Ginger in action. Despite being blind in both eyes, Ginger exudes a calming presence that touches everyone she meets. Her ability to remain at ease during treatments is proof of her resilience and the trust she has gained in humane care—something she was cruelly denied during her early years of abuse and neglect.
Ginger was rescued as a ‘begging’ elephant in 2021. She was suffering from physical distress under captivity, being severely dehydrated and malnourished. Ginger weighed only 2,650 kg at the time, which is far below the healthy weight for an elephant her size. In addition to that, the bones of her ribs, scapula, and the temporal region of her head were painfully visible to those with eyes to see.
Her spine bore deep scars from the improper use of a heavy howdah, or saddle, which she was forced to carry while providing rides to people. The damage to her feet was equally severe—overgrown cuticles and toenails, abscesses on her right hindlimbs, and fragile joints made every step agonising. Ginger’s movements were deliberate and cautious, each step taken with care as she was in fear of exacerbating her pain. Blind in both eyes, she also struggled to navigate the bustling streets where she once begged for alms.
Thankfully, due to the intervention of Wildlife SOS, Ginger’s story did not end here. At the hospital campus, Ginger found a second chance at life. With the dedicated care of our veterinarian and caregiver staff, Ginger has been on a steady path to recovery. Her wounds have now healed significantly, and she has gained weight to a healthy 3,260 kgs.
In addition to that, she has now gained trust in humans, despite experiencing years of mistreatment. Now, with her dedicated caregiver by her side, Ginger responds to whoever approaches her with grace and elegance that is impossible not to admire. This is also one of the reasons why demonstrations to visitors of how we conduct our target training sessions involve Ginger, the gentle elephant.
Elephants are profoundly social animals, yet Ginger spent most of her life alone, devoid of a herd to call her own. Under our care, however, she has not only formed deep bonds of trust and friendship with her caregivers and veterinarians, but has also started building connections with other elephants residing at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital.
Since the elephants at the hospital are under intensive care and treatment, housing them together, as we do at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, isn’t always feasible or safe. However, we’ve noticed that the elephants that go for their daily walks have begun to form friendships during this time. Ginger, too, has found companionship on these walks—most notably with Pari, a fellow pachyderm rescued just one day before her.
The budding friendship between Ginger and Pari is a heartening sign of their emotional and physical recovery. It reflects how far these gentle giants have come since their rescue, moving from lives of isolation and pain to forming meaningful bonds with one another. To celebrate this beautiful connection and honour their shared journey, we recently celebrated both Ginger and Pari’s “rescueversary” with a lavish fruit feast. The pair happily shared the treats at the hospital campus, reflecting pure joy and camaraderie.
Moments like these remind us of the resilience elephants showcase and how the power of kindness can heal even the deepest wounds. Despite enduring unimaginable hardships, Ginger’s capacity to accept love and care is profoundly inspiring. Watching Ginger stand tall and confident as she gracefully navigates her daily care routine is nothing short of witnessing hope in its purest form. Her strength and gentle spirit leave an indelible mark, reminding us why every effort in wildlife conservation and rescue is not only necessary, but meaningful.
If you would like to be a part of her transformative journey, consider sponsoring Ginger.
