Rhea
Year of arrival: 2016
Age at the time of arrival: 53 years old
Sex: Female
Recognisable features: Prominent right tush; depigmentation on the border of her ears
Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC)
Favourite food: Sugarcane and sweet potatoes
Closest to: Mia
Favourite activities: Napping on her mud bed under the sun
Background: Rhea was a performing elephant in a circus in Tamil Nadu with Sita and Mia. Though she was found to be ailing and weak, Rhea was calm and cooperative during her transition from the circus to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. |READ MORE ABOUT RHEA
VAYU’S STORY
Rhea’s worn out foot pads and arthritic limbs show us the brutal reality of animals performing in circuses. Rhea was torn apart from her herd at a young age, and was doomed to be an elephant tamed under brutality.
At the time of her rescue, Rhea’s toenails were overgrown, and she was both exhausted and weak to a point that all she wanted to do was lie down. When she was reunited with her companions Mia and Sita from the same circus, Rhea let out a trumpet, and we witnessed the three warmly exchanging trunk hugs.
To initiate the healing process, special attention was given to Mia’s feet soon after she arrived at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre. Rhea undergoes target training sessions that prepare her for routine medical check-ups. Caregivers have noted that she cooperates well during these sessions because she knows she will be rewarded with delicious dates and peanuts!