Baby elephant shows miraculous recovery after train mishap

Bani, a baby elephant who suffered severe injuries after being struck by a speeding train in Uttarakhand, has shown incredible progress after a year of intensive care.

The elephant, who was nine months old at the time of the accident, paralysed from the back due to the collision, was transported to India’s first elephant hospital in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where she received critical care from a team of dedicated veterinarians and caregivers.

The recovery journey has been nothing short of miraculous. Struck with spastic paraparesis, a condition that limits movement in the hind limbs, Bani’s treatment included a mix of Ayurveda, acupuncture and hydrotherapy. The Wildlife SOS team worked tirelessly. After several weeks of oil massages and regular hydrotherapy sessions, Bani was able to stand for the first time.

Dr Ilayaraja S, Deputy Director of Veterinary Services at Wildlife SOS, said: “We have introduced various structural enrichments to keep Bani’s muscles engaged and accelerate her recovery, including acupuncture, the first-ever treatment of its kind for an elephant in India.”

Over the past year, Bani has progressed to walking short distances and exploring her surroundings, though she still walks with an abnormal gait. To protect her feet, she wears shoes on her hind legs. Her caregivers provide round-the-clock attention and created a mud hole where Bani enjoys playing in the mud, one of her favorite activities.

Bani’s recovery has also shed light on the ongoing issue of train accidents involving wildlife. In response, the Wildlife SOS has launched a petition urging the Indian Railways to take action by reducing train speeds and implementing advanced technology to prevent accidents in wildlife-sensitive areas.

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, expressed his admiration for Bani’s resilience, saying, “Bani’s bond with her keepers and our team has been inspiring, and her strength continues to motivate us all. The entire centre is filled with joy as we celebrate her journey and recovery.”