A Plea for Justice: A Poem by CurrentKids Aliya Shetty Oza
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October 27, 2020
A Plea for Justice: A Poem by
CurrentKids Aliya Shetty Oza
A couple of weeks ago, a pregnant elephant standing in a river in Kerala ate a pineapple that had been stuffed with
firecrackers, and died. The trap had been laid for wild boar, probably because the wild boar are a nuisance to farmers and
their crop. It is a telling tale of the conflict between animals and man as we encroach on more and more natural territory.
This is a poem that Aliya has written about this horrible incident.
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October 27, 2020
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October 27, 2020
Who Am I? A quiz on endangered
species!
Contributed by: Payal Agarwal
India’s First Elephant Hospital
Opens In Mathura
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Credit: The Quint
Thanks to NGO Wildlife SOS, sick and injured elephants have their own hospital where they can be healed and
taken care of. The 12,000-square feet facility is located in the holy town of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, and is
the first such hospital for elephants in India.
India is home for many Asian wild elephants : Between 50 and 60 percent of Asian elephants reside in India. However,
the number of this endangered species has been on a decline. In 2010, India’s Environment Ministry declared the elephant
to be a National Heritage Animal in order to increase protective measures. In 2012, India’s elephant population was
estimated at about 30,000. By 2017, it was estimated at about 27,670. On an average, 80 elephants are killed every year
due to human-wildlife conflict alone.
Elephants held in captivity: Elephants are an important part of India’s culture. One of the most popular Gods in Hindu
mythology, Ganesha, has the head of an elephant. Elephants can be spotted at many temples in Southern India where they
are worshipped and used in religious ceremonies. They also represent Indian royalty and are seen at many forts and palaces
in the country to attract tourists. However, the condition of these elephants held in captivity is often miserable as they are
poked with sharp objects which leads to tears in their skin and causes infection. Many circus elephants are poorly treated
and have nails embedded in their foot pads.
The elephant hospital is a place of healing for the elephants
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Credit: Wildlife SOS Facebook Page
This specialised hospital in Mathura houses x-ray, thermal imaging, ultrasound machines, tranquilization devices, a
hydrotherapy pool, an in-house pathology lab, and quarantine facilities. Located close to the elephant conservation and care
centre set up by the same NGO, the hospital is equipped with a medical hoist for lifting elephants, and an elephant
restraining device which is usually used during the time of vaccination or while giving baths. The facility has three enclosed
areas to house recuperating elephants. It also has an ambulance big enough to transport an elephant and two caretakers.
An observation deck will allow veterinary students and interns to observe and learn about an elephant’s behaviour and
treatment from a safe distance. The hospital will also reach out to elephants in remote areas in North India by using portable
machinery to treat an injured elephant on-site.
Conservation of this endangered species is the need of the hour. We hope that many such hospitals can be set up
throughout the country to protect the elephants and other endangered animal species.
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Written by: Chandni Shah. Chandni is a picture book collector, an educator and founder of
Simplifly, a learning venture for children.
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