Phoolkali
Year of arrival: 2012
Age at the time of arrival: 55 years old
Sex: Female
Recognisable features: Perfectly symmetrical depigmentation over her eyes and her trunk, the tallest female elephant under our care
Health condition when rescued: Severely malnourished, dehydrated, and underweight; stereotypic behaviour; wound on the left side of her face, blind in the right eye due to untreated cataract, worn out foot pads, weak and arthritic limbs
Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC)
Favourite food: Cabbage and jackfruit
Favourite activities: Long walks with her caregiver, playing with her hosepipe enrichment ball
Background: Phoolkali had no respite from her torturous routine of begging for alms for her owner, who would repeatedly shout at her. Phoolkali was forced to navigate through narrow streets and littered roads after being jabbed on her forehead by a bullhook. This left her physically injured and psychologically stressed. Her spirit was completely broken. Phoolkali’s healing journey at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre gave her a chance to heal and rediscover herself. | READ MORE ABOUT PHOOLKALI
phoolkali’S STORY
Phoolkali suffered insurmountable pain for over 50 years of her life. Her monotonous routine of walking the streets of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, in the middle of traffic and chaos, was towards the purpose of begging. She would keep walking despite her extreme exhaustion, under the threat of the bullhook that her unmindful owner would repeatedly strike her with.
When Phoolkali was rescued, she was weak and dehydrated, and had a distinctively protruding spine. These were signs of abject malnutrition and improper care. She was a scared elephant and would display her stress by aggressively bobbing and swaying her head. A proper examination revealed that not only was Phoolkali grossly underweight, but was also blind in her right eye due to untreated cataract. But this magnificent elephant held on to every bit of strength left in her and recovered miraculously under our care.
Phoolkali is a poised elephant while she goes on in her long walks to the riverside with her dear companion, Maya and her caregiver, who dotes on her completely. It is a sight to behold when Phoolkali takes a dip in water and splashes it all around her, thoroughly enjoying herself and refusing to come out, no matter how many dates and peanuts are offered to her. A healthy diet and lots of care has made this majestic elephant rediscover her true self and steal our hearts with her tactics as she indulges in glorious dust baths, or runs to grab a few extra beetroots from Maya’s cage feeder! Phoolkali has restored not only her strength, but also formed the identity of being a free-spirited elephant.