Trunk Tales: The Quiet Grace Of Arya

In her peaceful world, Arya listens! She listens to the sound of her caregiver’s footsteps, the faint rustle of the sugarcane leaves, and the soft rumble of her best friend Zara next to her. Arya is a nearly 55-year-old pachyderm who is completely blind in both eyes. Even as age settles upon her body, Arya moves with an unobtrusive dignity that inspires both respect and affection.

A former ‘begging’ elephant rescued from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Arya’s tale speaks of profound resilience. For years under neglected captivity, she had lived life on crowded streets, navigating harsh roads with sharp turns and potholes through touch and memory only. Her trunk was the only guiding friend for Arya who had no vision to protect her from the dangerous traffic, blaring horns, and insensitive interactions with humans. After suffering half a decade of unfair treatment, Arya stepped into the Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC) of Wildlife SOS in 2020. Immediate attention was given to the elephant that was ailing from multiple abscesses, torn foot pads and a weak, malnourished frame. Arya’s sore feet had finally met soft ground, and a welcoming, pleasant breeze conveyed how open her new surroundings now were. Love and kindness together became a healing shield that made Arya feel secure.

Today, five years on, Arya stands tall, showing how an elephant’s inner strength is as mighty as their build.

Arya’s days at EHC revolve around gentle and tranquil rhythms: nutritious meals, enriching activities, leisurely walks, and heartwarming gestures by her caregivers. Due to the stiffness she has had in her hindlimbs, she prefers to stand through most of the day, but occasionally chooses to lie down on her mud bed that has been made to provide her with comfort.

She is closely monitored by our veterinarians and is provided with joint supplements, multivitamins, and mineral powders to manage the symptoms of her arthritis as well as for her overall well-being. Her caregivers reveal that calm Arya can quickly sense them approaching her from afar. She is also one who interacts with her quiet surroundings in pure contentment, and responds to soft voices and the light tap of loving hands during her treatment sessions.

When it comes to food, Arya’s preferences are fresh seasonal fruits like papayas, watermelons, and cucumbers. For an elephant that was devoid of juicy delights all her life, it is overwhelming to watch Arya taking in every chopped piece in an unhurried manner and with unmistakable joy. For her daily fodder, caregivers restock sugarcane and freshly harvested berseem in enrichments designed to boost her mental activity. Arya lets out a cheerful call when she finds the delicious dates that caregivers hide inside her barrel and puzzle feeders!

Arya’s healing journey cannot be described without the most precious bond she formed with Zara, an elephant much younger to her. Arya and Zara not only share an enclosure, but also an unspoken promise to never leave the other behind. Their friendship is visible as they softly nudge each other with their trunk, and for Arya, this comes across as a highly reassuring gesture. Zara also plays the role of a protective guide for Arya. Anyone observing the two pachyderms together knows that they are inseparable.

Each morning before beginning their daily routine walk, caregivers observe Arya standing patiently, with her trunk extended, waiting for a Zara. Understanding her impatience to explore, Zara comes towards Arya and gently brushes against her, as if to say “I am here”. It is only then that Arya takes her first confident step forward, trusting Zara’s faithful company.

One of our team members recalls a heartwarming moment when both Arya and Zara were enjoying a splashtime in the pool and their caregivers arrived with food. Zara immediately got out of the water and let out a loud trumpet to let Arya know that it was mealtime!

Their caregivers often describe these interactions as rituals that remind the two of each other’s presence. Arya moves slowly, keeping pace with the steps of Zara, who makes sure to slow down for her. And if, by chance, Zara is a few feet away from Arya, she makes sure to let out her soft and short trumpet to let her friend know that she’s around. They are each other’s constant supporters.

It’s not often one sees such a natural and spontaneous friendship among elephants. In Arya’s instance, it has provided her with emotional stability in a world that previously gave her none. To observe her nuzzle Zara or stop in the middle of a walk just to lean tenderly against her is nothing less than watching the silent poetry of trust.

Arya is a gentle elephant, and she has nurtured wonderful wisdom, complementing her age. Her composed nature has won our hearts as she has eagerly accepted the compassion, care and comfort she is surrounded by. Unlike some of the younger elephants at our centres, Arya doesn’t splash in the water troughs or chase away birds, but she experiences and expresses happiness in her own unassuming way. A long trunk dip into cool water, the crunch of sugarcane, leaning against a mud wall, the touch of Zara’s trunk — all bring happiness to Arya’s days.

Arya is our Elephant of the Month, and she teaches us that freedom isn’t always declared with loud trumpets. Sometimes, it can be expressed by standing quietly in the sun, listening to the world with a trusting heart and a gentle sway of the trunk!

Elephants such as Arya deserve dignity, comfort, and peace that was earlier denied to them. Her care is facilitated by the hard work of our staff and the generosity of her supporters. By becoming a monthly donor for elephants, you can help us carry forward the medical care, nutrition, and enrichments that Arya requires to live well. Because elephants such as Arya are living proof of resilience and the beauty that can be found in healing.

Feature image: Wildlife SOS/ Vineet Singh