{"id":2000105187,"date":"2026-03-12T14:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T12:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000105187"},"modified":"2026-03-12T12:35:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T10:35:42","slug":"injured-elephant-rescued-after-years-of-forced-labor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/injured-elephant-rescued-after-years-of-forced-labor\/","title":{"rendered":"Injured elephant rescued after years of forced labor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to Wildlife SOS, the elephant, named Veer, had reportedly endured years of exploitation, including being used as a \u201cbegging\u201d elephant on the streets, a practice that often exposes animals to harsh conditions, overwork and inadequate medical care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to the urgent situation, Wildlife SOS mobilized a specialized veterinary team late last month to rescue the injured animal and transport him to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The remarkably tall, exceptionally calm and endearingly curious Veer would keep peeping and popping out his trunk over the ambulance every few minutes. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the mission, the organization deployed its newly commissioned elephant ambulance, marking the vehicle\u2019s first field rescue. Designed specifically for long-distance elephant transfers, the ambulance is equipped with advanced safety and stabilization systems to ensure the safe transport of injured elephants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vehicle includes specially designed access points that allow veterinary technicians to administer medication and monitor vital signs while maintaining a safe distance. Inside, the ambulance is structured to provide stability and reduce stress for the animal during travel. Since elephants must remain standing during transport, supportive straps and harnesses allow them to shift weight away from injured limbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis rescue represents both urgency and hope,\u201d said Nikki Sharp, Executive Director of Wildlife SOS USA. \u201cFor decades, \u2018begging\u2019 elephants have endured unthinkable physical and psychological trauma. With our new elephant ambulance and expert veterinary team, we are able to respond faster and more safely than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Veer displayed no unrest around the Wildlife SOS team, and remained engrossed with the abundance of food offered to him. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Upon reaching Veer, the medical team conducted an examination and provided immediate treatment before beginning the transport. Because elephants must stand while the vehicle is moving, the team made regular stops during the multi-day journey so the animal could rest and lie down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veer was eventually transported to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, located at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where he will receive specialized treatment and long-term care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wildlife SOS is also spearheading an international campaign to end the exploitation of elephants used for street begging in India. The initiative aims to rescue and rehabilitate all such elephants by 2030, many of whom suffer from chronic injuries, malnutrition and untreated illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization currently cares for more than 30 rescued elephants at its conservation facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVeer\u2019s rescue is a powerful reminder of why this work matters,\u201d Sharp said. \u201cBecause of our supporters, he now has access to the specialized treatment and long-term care he urgently needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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A brighter chapter has opened up in Veer\u2019s life, filled with nourishing care and affection. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Veer was offered a lot of cucumbers to keep up his hydration levels. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
While the team faced an unexpected turn of events when the ambulance tyres sunk into the mud, caregivers made the best of the situation by creating a mud bed for Veer to aid his sleep. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
The remarkably tall, exceptionally calm and endearingly curious Veer would keep peeping and popping out his trunk over the ambulance every few minutes. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Wildlife SOS rushed to prepare the animal ambulance by sanitising it thoroughly and stocking it with fresh edibles for the elephant thereafter. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The gentle giant was forced to walk on concrete roads, bearing goods on his back under the scorching sun. Photo by Wildlife SOS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A global wildlife conservation organization, Wildlife SOS, has launched an emergency rescue operation to save a 27-year-old elephant that suffered a severe leg injury after years of forced labor in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000105194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[101],"byline":[160],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000105187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","tag-internationl","byline-theophile-niyitegeka"],"bylines":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":3}],"contributors":[{"id":160,"name":"Th\u00e9ophile Niyitegeka","slug":"theophile-niyitegeka","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":3}],"featured_image":{"id":2000105194,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","alt":"","caption":"A brighter chapter has opened up in Veer\u2019s life, filled with nourishing care and affection. Photo by Wildlife SOS","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","width":150,"height":105},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","width":300,"height":210},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","width":768,"height":538},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","width":1000,"height":700},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/aee.jpg","width":1000,"height":700}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000105187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000105195,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000105187\/revisions\/2000105195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000105194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000105187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000105187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000105187"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000105187"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000105187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}