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Orphaned elephant Bani walks again thanks to custom boots
12 Apr
Summary
- Bani, an orphaned elephant, regained mobility with custom-made boots.
- She survived a train accident that killed her mother and left her paralyzed.
- The elephant hospital's pioneering treatment offers hope for other animals.
Three-year-old Bani, an orphaned elephant, has made a remarkable recovery and is now walking with the aid of custom-made boots. She was left paralyzed after a devastating train accident in India that tragically killed her mother. Initially given only a 2% chance of survival, Bani was transported to the Wildlife SOS elephant hospital in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
Her rehabilitation involved intensive physiotherapy, Ayurvedic oil massages, laser therapy, and hydrotherapy. Alongside this, specialized boots were designed to protect her feet, which were initially dragged on the ground due to her paralysis. These boots, taking three to five days to create, are made of durable faux leather and feature soft gel padding secured with Velcro.
Bani's case is the first of its kind globally and provides hope for other severely injured animals facing seemingly hopeless situations. While she will not be released into the wild due to her injuries, she continues to receive expert care at the elephant hospital in Agra, where she was brought in February 2024. The sanctuary faces significant daily costs for elephant care, prompting an appeal for donations to support Bani and other rescued elephants from abusive tourism practices.
