Holly
Year of arrival: 2018
Age at the time of arrival: 60 years old
Sex: Female
Personality traits: Tranquil and reserved
Recognisable features: Compromised gait. Holly is smaller in size than her companion Kalpana
Health condition when rescued: Blind in both eyes; septic, chronic wounds on shoulders; multiple joint disorders and severe arthritis and injuries on hindlimbs causing poor body conformation and leg lameness; untreated elbow abscesses; thin and infected foot pads; cracked and overgrown toenails
Facility: Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC)
Favourite food: Sugarcane as fodder, along with bananas, papayas and apples
Favourite activities: Relaxing and even taking naps in the pool! The buoyancy of the water helps take the weight off her exhausted, arthritic limbs.
Special needs: Due to her severely affected gait, Holly’s takes slow and measured steps during her daily walks. To boost her inner strength and immunity, she is fed a cooked concentrate consisting of nutritious and healing condiments like ginger, garlic, and turmeric.
Background: Holly was a ‘begging’ elephant, and her body hosted scars of brutality and abuse. She is completely blind in both her eyes, and was forced to walk endlessly on hot, tarmac roads. Holly became the first patient of the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, and urgent medical attention was rendered to her by our team of veterinarians. | READ MORE ABOUT HOLLY
holly’S STORY
A frail elephant with inflamed joints and deep, infected wounds – that is how we saw Holly at the time of her rescue in December 2018. Holly was found to be suffering from multiple joint disorders and severe arthritis, which is the cause of her poor body conformation and leg lameness. It was evident that she was in pain due to severe neglect and abuse she faced for 60 years of her life. The chronic wounds on her shoulders, some of which had turned septic, had the risk of reaching her bones! With no vision, Holly was initially wary and scared of her new surroundings at the Elephant Hospital, hence it was our priority to make her feel comfortable as we began her medical treatment.
For the first eight months at EHC, Holly did not lie down. She preferred to sleep standing up, and this concerned our veterinarians as her limbs were not strong enough to be able to withstand the discomfort of standing for long. To provide her with support, special mud beds were created so she could lie down with ease. But it was the hydrotherapy pool that answered Holly’s call for relief. She found the water relaxing for her battered legs, and she would nap in the pool for hours! The much-needed rest helped Holly gradually gain strength in her limbs.
She now stands with her dear friend Kalpana, occasionally stealing sugarcanes from her mouth, which shows how Holly has not only gained her physical strength, but has also healed well mentally.