As the sun set on a cold, wintry evening on the 9th of January, 2025, at the Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC), we also bid a heart-wrenching farewell to one of our youngest and dearest residents, Peanut. Though her journey with us was tragically brief, the love she inspired and the lessons she taught us will remain etched in our hearts forever.
Peanut came into our care as a tender six-year-old, a survivor of unimaginable cruelty. Rescued from a circus in 2015 alongside Coconut, Macadamia, and Walnut, she bore the scars of a life marred by abuse. Born into captivity, Peanut was forced to perform unnatural tricks, enduring relentless pain and exploitation for the sake of entertainment.
- Peanut (R) and Coconut’s (L) bond was forged in the harsh environment of the circus, where the two young elephants found solace and strength in each other during their difficult and painful experiences. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
When she arrived at the Wildlife SOS’s EHC, Peanut’s fear and shyness spoke volumes about the trauma she had endured. Even the gentlest interactions made her wary, a stark reminder of the injustices inflicted on her young, innocent soul. Neglect and lack of nourishment as a baby caused Peanut to face health challenges that would continue to affect her well into adulthood.
To help Peanut heal at the centre—and to give her the nurturing companionship she was denied in captivity—she along with Coconut were introduced to the mini-herd of Asha, Lakhi, and Suzy. These three elder elephants, despite facing their own health challenges, welcomed the young duo with warm trunks and open hearts. The elder pachyderms took Peanut and Coconut under their care, offering the gentle guidance and familial bond they had long been deprived of. Under their watchful eyes and the endless patience and love of her caregivers, Peanut began to blossom.
- Peanut (L) and Coconut’s (R) first mud bath after their rescue was a joyful and heartwarming moment for everyone who watched them at the centre. The two elephants revelled in the cool, refreshing mud, splashing playfully, surprising unsuspecting humans with their fun antics. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
From a timid and traumatised soul, Peanut slowly transformed into a playful and mischievous young elephant. She loved nothing more than napping under the protective shadow of Lakhi, who would stand guard, shielding her from the harsh rays of the sun. Her bond with Coconut, forged during their challenging days at the circus, only grew deeper as they embraced the freedom to play and heal together in a safe environment. Their companionship became a source of comfort and joy that both the elephants relished. Peanut’s playful nature also extended to her caregivers as well—she would often grasp their hands with her trunk when they were nearby, trying to pull them into the enclosure to join her in play.
As Peanut grew, her fun-loving streak became more evident, and her sparkling eyes revealed a curiosity that was truly infectious. Sometimes, Peanut’s antics would raise the attention of the elder elephants. Her and Coco’s vivacious energy often led to rambunctious rolls around their enclosure, prompting the older pachyderms to gently nudge the young ones back to calmness, offering them the kindness only a loving family could provide.
- This picture captures the pure joy of Peanut’s first walk and her very first dust bath after her rescue, marking a new chapter of happiness and healing. The excitement in her body language is unmistakable as she rolls in the mud and sprays it all over herself! [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
As Peanut and Coconut grew older, so did the elder elephants in their herd. The elders’ advancing ailments contrasted with the boundless energy of the two young ones, making it necessary to separate the group for their well-being. Peanut and Coconut were moved to a larger enclosure, providing them with ample space to move around and frolic to their hearts’ content. While initially hesitant, the resourceful young duo quickly adapted to this change, turning their new home into a playground where their bond only grew stronger.
In their new enclosure, Peanut and Coconut’s youthful energy brought boundless joy to all who cared for them. Their caregivers consistently provided the duo with various enrichment activities to keep them engaged and mentally stimulated. Being intelligent and eager to decode, any new enrichment idea was first tested with them before being introduced to other elephants. True to their nature, Peanut and Coconut would quickly dismantle most enrichments with ease. However, if this task took too long, they would simply demolish the enrichment! Many enrichment prototypes met such misfortune at the hands of these two spirited elephants—much to the amused dismay of their caregivers.
- A true waterbaby, all of Peanut’s favourite activities were centred around water: whether it was splashing around in the Yamuna River, cooling off in the pond within her enclosure, or playfully spraying water from the enclosure trough on everyone nearby! [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
Peanut and Coconut’s morning and evening walks often took a joyous detour into nearby water bodies. The two friends would gleefully roll around, splashing water on anyone nearby. Peanut, with her uncontainable energy and lively abandon, always led the run towards the river as she couldn’t wait to dive in. Watching her delight in these playful dips was a balm to our hearts—a beautiful contrast to the pain and suffering she had endured in the circus. To ensure they could continue their cherished water play even after their walks, our caregivers built a pool for the two in their enclosure.
Despite the joyful life Peanut found with us, health challenges, rooted in a childhood of abuse and malnourishment, would emerge and require immediate attention from our dedicated veterinarians. Peanut was generally a foodie, but there were times when she would lose interest in food, a symptom later linked to underlying issues in her liver. In the time leading up to her passing, she went through a particularly severe period of inappetence. Her caregivers went above and beyond, increasing the variety and quantity of her meals—from fresh fruits and vegetables to cooked concentrates and multigrain rotis—to provide her with as many options as possible. Our team worked tirelessly, day and night, to support her through this struggle, but her rapidly declining condition left them stunned. Peanut’s condition worsened, till one fateful evening when she experienced severe respiratory distress. Despite all our efforts to save her, she succumbed to her illness in the late hours of that night.
- Peanut (R) and Coconut (L) would have chosen to spend the entire day in the shallow waters of the Yamuna River — only bags full of their favourite treats held out by their caregivers could coax the pair to come out of the water. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
Peanut’s life was a journey filled with love, mischief, and joy, and her loss has left everyone at Wildlife SOS heartbroken and grieving. Our thoughts also go out to Coconut, who was not only Peanut’s companion, but also her constant guardian, watching over her with a loving eye. It is often said that the brightest stars burn the fastest, and Peanut’s life was a testament to that—shining brightly and vibrantly during her time with us. Her untimely passing has shattered the hearts of everyone on the ground, leaving our team overwhelmed with grief and inconsolable at the loss of such a beloved and irreplaceable soul. Though she may no longer be with us physically, her spirit will forever light our hearts, like a radiant star that continues to shine through the dark, watching over us and Coconut, embracing us all with her love.
- Though Peanut may no longer be with us physically, the love, joy, and playfulness that defined her time with us will forever live on in our hearts. We miss you, Peanut. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak]
To all who have adored her and are sharing our grief, remember Peanut in the words of this poem:
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight.
Send your wishes and love to the brightest star in the sky, for that is where our dear Peanut now resides—forever shining down on us, loved and remembered.
A poem written by a supporter of Wildlife SOS.
In the Memory of a Spirited Elephant
Prankster Peanut is dearly missed
For she was sweet, vibrant and vivacious.
Forever mischievous and playful,
Conjuring pranks in her enclosure spacious.
Every morning, day and night,
She employed varying methods of ploy
To keep her caregivers on their toes,
Yet a source of immense joy.
Rescued from the travails of a circus
Her fear of humans she outgrew.
With health issues yet a robust spirit
To herself everyone she drew.
With affection, amazement and laughter
She filled those whose lives she touched.
A gentle and mischievous soul
Shared a camaraderie with her mate such.
For inseparable were Peanut and Coconut
While at feeding or at play.
They shared every moment together
Whether it was night or day.
We wish, gentle soul, in peace you may rest
For having known you we feel blessed.
© Shefali Ray
