In the last decade since she was rescued, Laxmi has shown us her beautiful nature filled with love and playfulness. A resident at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura, the 29-year-old pachyderm starts her day in an environment that is very different compared to her past. This month, we focus on lively Laxmi, and how she is spending her summer days at the Wildlife SOS centre.
Laxmi was used as a begging elephant in the crowded metropolitan city of Mumbai, where she was forced to travel from one temple to another. She was made to raise her trunk as though blessing the people surrounding her. Laxmi had to traverse cemented roads and platforms that affected her feet, but that’s not all. At the end of the day, she was also fed all kinds of unhealthy street food, of which one emerged as her favourite — vada pavs!
When rescued, Laxmi was an elephant that exceeded a normal weight by 1,800 kilograms! Her journey at ECCC began with a rough start, since she refused to eat any of the green fodder or vegetables that had replaced the earlier sugary and deep-fried food she would binge on. The team, aware of how fond she is of food, presented her with various combinations of healthy edibles to get her to bite into them. Among a large platter of freshly cut green vegetables, an odd and juicy inclusion was the one that Laxmi finally put her trunk on — watermelons!
Since then, Laxmi found an appetite for the naturally sweet fruits and nutritious vegetables that are being provided to her. Our foodie is quick to gulp all of them down! Her diet has been consciously monitored by our team so that our short and stout elephant remains fit and fine.
Summer is a season of joy for Laxmi! It brings with it delightful watermelons and cucumbers that surely make their way to her diet. Cucumbers have a high quantity of water content, and keep Laxmi cool, refreshed and hydrated during hot days. Along with this, the summer management programme for our pachyderms at the ECCC also ensures that ORS (oral rehydration solution) is mixed in the elephants’ porridge meal on a weekly basis.
Hot days are also meant for cool sprays! Sprinklers that have been placed on top of poles present in the enclosures of the elephants are turned on during the scorching hours to create a soothing atmosphere for Laxmi and the rest. The sprays moisten the earth that they walk on in their fields as well, allowing them to take comfortable walks.
Laxmi thoroughly enjoys the refreshing baths given to her by her caregiver. The pool in her enclosure adds to the fun as she gets in for quick dips throughout the day. After these sessions, Laxmi feasts on green fodder like berseem (clover), and freshly chopped fruits. After relishing a wholesome serving of these, Laxmi gets ready for her evening walk with her companions Bijli and Chanchal. The three jolly friends make their way to the ’Field of Dreams’, the trail at our centre that is plush with foliage!
As part of her care routine, Laxmi undergoes periodic nail trimming to ensure the maintenance of her nails and prevent any infections or injuries from occurring. This process not only keeps her foot health in check, but also helps to clean dirt, debris or any other kind of hazardous substances that often get stuck in the sole’s crevices.
Caregivers note how Laxmi is calm and cooperative during her foot care, and this can largely be credited to the target training sessions conducted for her regularly. Target training is when elephants are encouraged through gentle prompts to present concerned areas, such as feet or ears, so that medical examinations or any treatments can be carried out with ease. But what nudges our bright pachyderm to follow the cues? It’s food! Laxmi gets rewarded with tasty treats during the entire process!
Laxmi’s enclosure has many enrichments, both structural and olfactory, that keep our energetic elephant pleasantly engaged. A mud bed, scratching pole, the pool and a drinking water draught are all structural enrichments that have been designed and placed for her to use. However, olfactory enrichments are what Laxmi finds great pleasure in exploring, because each of them are stuffed with yummy treats! The most-loved ones out of the lot are the hanging haynets and the feeder boxes. The haynets are filled with fodder for Laxmi to feast on, and extracting them makes for a great form of physical exercise for her. Similarly, feeder boxes and pipes are filled with sugarcane stalks for Laxmi to cheerfully munch on.
Laxmi has emerged to be a lively and confident elephant, despite what her past looked like. The regular care and kindness shown by her caregiver and our veterinarians has helped her remain healthy and joyful. Her aura lights up the centre, and she is truly a delight to watch! If you wish to support Laxmi’s daily care, you can sponsor her by clicking here.
