Chanchal

CHANCHAL'S RESCUE STORY

Chanchal miraculously survived an accident on a highway in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, where a truck collided with her and left her with a permanently diffused left hind joint. Her body was also covered with scars from injuries sustained in the past. Chanchal’s healing journey has been no less than an inspiring and courageous one. While she could barely stand after the accident, her spirit was not broken, and she recovered to become an elephant who now makes a dash towards her pipe-feeder each time it is filled with yummy dates!  

Initially shy in her new surroundings at Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Chanchal could barely trust the caregivers and the veterinarians enough to let them near her, but gradually, as her wounds healed, she grew comfortable under their care. She has taken well to the pool in her enclosure and is a complete water baby! Chanchal is extremely possessive of the pool that she shares with her dearest friend, Bijli, and makes sure that she is always the first one in.  To add to that, Chanchal refuses to enter the pool after Bijli or Laxmi have used it, as though to show how particularly concerned she is about hygiene. She would only enter after the pool is cleaned and refilled. Chanchal’s mischievous tactics show that she has been healing well and that she gets to be the elephant that she is. The Hindi word chanchal translates to “playful”, and our Chanchal remains true to her name! She is either seen playing around with her tyre enrichment or running around to grab some treats from Bijli’s cage-feeder or pipe-feeder!