India’s first hospital only for elephants was established near the Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh) last week. The hospital is the result of a collaborative effort between the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and conservation NGO Wildlife SOS. It is a fully equipped and dedicated hospital with wireless digital X-Ray, laser treatment and dental X-ray facilities.
The new hospital, on the banks of the Yamuna River, is close to an elephant conservation and care centre and is home to 22 elephants.
The promoter NGO Wildlife SOS CEO Katick Satyanarayan said that this is a milestone in the conservation journey. “The facility will allow us to take better care, and gradually develop as a destination for humane management of elephants.”
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India’s first elephant hospital is jumbo sized with a built-up area of almost 12,000 square feet that includes an observation area for the overnight monitoring of elephants under treatment using Close Circuit Infra-Red CCTV cameras. Training courses would be organized by Wildlife SOS to spread knowledge on elephant medical care, humane elephant management and veterinary procedures to spread compassion
Geeta Seshamani, co-founder of Wildlife SOS said, “I think by building a hospital we are underlining the fact that elephants need welfare measures as much as any other animal.”
The hospital has not only come as a respite to the elephants but is also attracting local and foreign tourists.
An observation deck will allow veterinary students and interns to observe and learn about elephant’s behaviour and treatment from a safe distance.
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