It is said that individuals sharing the same traumatic experiences often bond very well. For our rescued elephant Emma, introduction to her now two best friends Maya and Phoolkali, has proven this point. Emma was rescued and brought in at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC), Mathura, in 2021. Being a shy pachyderm, she was given a separate enclosure for the first few months to allow her to get used to her new surroundings. Slowly but surely, Emma came out of her shell as she received dedicated care, and takes on each day with a pep in her step.
While their companionship is an unbreakable force today, Emma, Maya and Phoolkali took some time initially to warm up to one another. When Emma was introduced to the duo, Phoolkali, being the eldest and wiser one, took the lead to welcome the new entrant with her warm gestures. Soon Maya, Phoolkali’s sincere and closest companion, picked up the cues and approached Emma as well. The bond they have gradually formed can now be described as a warm and loving friendship. The three beautiful elephants actively engage in cheerful communication with each other, with Maya and Phoolkali sharing an enclosure, and Emma residing in the one right next to them.
Most of Emma’s life prior to her rescue had been spent begging on the road for money, giving rides to tourists, and as a decorated prop for wedding processions. This unkind past is difficult to overcome, but Emma’s resilience and sociable nature have been able to replace her trauma with newfound joy and relief. Elephants are not only highly cognitive mammals, they also have intrinsic ways of displaying their emotions. They express this in their vocal calls and through the act of touching. Camaraderie has helped Emma revive her inherent traits, and has been a balm to the mental scars she suffered from.
The dedicated team of caregivers and expert veterinary staff leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that 43-year-old Emma receives proper attention and care that is required. By carefully examining her behaviour and movement, caregivers relay information to the medical staff so that any and every variance can be addressed well in time. Such was the case when Emma recently acquired abscesses on her front foot pad. A regime was quickly prescribed to her, which included medicated foot baths with strong healing agents like turmeric and Epsom salt. In a matter of weeks, Emma’s condition improved significantly owing to the constant care provided by our team.
Assuring Emma’s well-being goes much beyond managing her medically. With temperatures reaching more than 40 degree celsius in North India, our team at ECCC are implementing a summer management protocol to provide comfort to our resident elephants. As a measure to cool their surroundings, sprinklers have been attached on top of the poles within the elephant enclosures. Not only do they spray water on the pachyderms, these sprinklers also moisten the earth in their fields so that they can walk on it with ease. On most days, with the sun at its peak, Emma takes advantage of this wet soil by picking a lump of it with her trunk and plonking it on her back. This mud bath acts both as a natural cooler and a sunscreen that protects her skin from ultraviolet rays.
And that’s not all — Emma also has a pool in her enclosure that she uses for instant relief from the heat! She can be seen immersed entirely within it, popping up to take a shower with a trunkful of water. Caregivers make sure that this pool is cleaned and refilled regularly too. They also spray a mixture of turmeric and lime water onto the soil within enclosures to prevent the growth of any kind of fungus or microbes.
Emma is an extremely curious pachyderm, which is why her favourite enrichment is none other than (*drumroll*) the rolling drum! The drum is filled with treats such as dates, peanuts and seasonal fruits, and Emma cleverly rolls it so each comes out. These enrichments help to keep our resident pachyderms mentally active and joyful while playing with them. Emma and her friendly neighbours Phookali and Maya also indulge in nutrient-rich seasonal fodder — sorghum for summers, berseem (clover) for winters — that are filled within their enrichments as well.
When it comes to food, this trio is not at all fussy! From different kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables that are provided to them, to their daily wholesome meals, the three are quick to gobble all of it up. Mindful of the summer heat, the team includes ample quantities of cucumber in Emma, Maya and Phoolkali’s diets due to the high water content it has to keep our resident elephants hydrated. Also introduced are ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) and curd, both of which are mixed in the elephants’ cooked concentrate on a weekly basis to keep their gut health intact.
Calm Emma has formed an inseparable friendship with protective Phoolkali and supportive Maya with whom she walks, munches on treats, and even takes showers in the day. Observing Emma with the two reaffirms the wonderful role companionship plays, and serves as a treat for the eyes of those who witness them at our centre!
You can support Emma’s healing journey at Wildlife SOS by becoming a sponsor.
