Bhola gets new home

A 38-year-old elephant that was "lodged" at Loni police station here since last week was transferred to a rescue centre in Agra, where it will have a natural environment and also a companion. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.

A 38-year-old elephant that was “lodged” at Loni police station here since last week was transferred to a rescue centre in Agra, where it will have a natural environment and also a companion.

HT Image

Last month, the mahout of the elephant, Bhola, reportedly tried to walk the elephant into Uttar Pradesh, without proper documents.

The elephant was then taken in by forest officials and an NGO, Wildlife SOS.

On September 23, Bhola was severely injured when he was hit by a speeding mini-truck.

"For some days, he was kept at Loni police station, as his owners could not produce legal ownership papers and the transit pass. On court order, Bhola has now been handed over to forest department officials and sent to a rescue centre in Agra," said Ghaziabad district forest officer YP Malik.

The rescue centre at Agra is currently run in joint coordination with the UP forest department and Wildlife SOS and provides natural habitat to rescued animals which cannot be placed under a wildlife environment.

The helpline coordinator of Wildlife SOS said Bhola is undergoing treatment at Agra for his injuries, and was placed in the company of a female elephant, Champa.