Acupuncture Brings Relief to Rescued Elephants

Quick Smiles:

• Wildlife SOS veterinarians in India use acupuncture to help rescued elephants recover from pain and mobility issues.
• Techniques like dry needling, electro-acupuncture, and moxibustion are providing real relief for elephants with arthritis and digestive problems.
• Success stories include Bani regaining movement, and elephants Holly, Zara, Raju, Taj, and Vayu enjoying improved health.

India’s largest wildlife rescue organization, Wildlife SOS, has turned to acupuncture, offering new hope to elephants suffering from chronic pain and impaired mobility after being rescued from tough conditions.

Their veterinary team received specialized training in alternative methods and found that combining acupuncture with standard treatments helped accelerate recovery when usual approaches fell short.

Wildlife SOS was established three decades ago and now manages 12 rescue centers, with the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura at the forefront of innovative care.

When an orphaned calf named Bani arrived paralyzed after an accident, veterinarians explored holistic therapies, even traveling to Thailand to learn from global experts in veterinary acupuncture.

The team discovered that acupuncture could reduce pain, improve circulation, encourage healing, and address many lingering health concerns.

“Many elephants rescued by Wildlife SOS have pain pathways overstimulated by years of abuse, poor nutrition, and untreated injuries, making chronic pain a major challenge to treat,” says Natasha Ashok of Wildlife SOS.

She shares, “Once our team gained expertise in acupuncture principles, we began applying it at our Elephant Hospital Campus, yielding remarkable improvements in several elephants.”

For elephants like Holly and Zara, who suffer from arthritis and severe hindlimb pain, methods such as electro-acupuncture and the ‘circle the dragon’ technique have helped reduce inflammation and restore movement.

Rescued elephants Raju and Taj found relief from digestive issues like colic and constipation, thanks to targeted acupuncture sessions and moxibustion therapy.

Another elephant named Vayu was treated for abdominal swelling with moxibustion, which led to a noticeable reduction in fluid and improved circulation.

Wildlife SOS has reported that acupuncture’s integration with modern medicine has brought significant improvements to the elephants’ lives.

A year ago, they also held a workshop to train more caretakers in these valuable techniques, creating hope for holistic healing in more animals.

The inspiring recoveries of Bani, Holly, Zara, Raju, Taj, and Vayu highlight the power of blending traditional wisdom with modern care.

Share this uplifting story about elephant care to help spread awareness and compassion for rescued wildlife!

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