A new hope for Maniki: Ailing elephant to receive treatment at Vantara
Jamnagar, June 24
An elephant named 'Maniki' is being transported to Reliance Foundation-run animal shelter Vantara, where she will receive specialised care and treatment based on her preliminary diagnosis.
A chronic deformity in Maniki's left foreleg has severely impacted her movement and quality of life. In addition to mobility challenges, she has been battling age-related ailments, infected wounds, impaired vision in one eye, dehydration, and poor body condition.
Maniki's condition came to public attention after a video showed her limping painfully along a highway in Assam while being taken for medical treatment.
The visuals deeply moved people across the country. Concerned citizens, animal welfare advocates, and members of the public came together to seek urgent support for her care. Petitions were signed, appeals were made, and Maniki's condition became a matter of collective concern.
Recognising that Maniki required sustained hospital-based care, her owner, Ruchi Chetia, wrote to the Supreme Court-appointed committee for rescue and care of suffering wild animals, requesting that she be transferred to Vantara for advanced treatment and long-term care.
With the necessary approvals from the committee and the governments of Assam and Gujarat, Vantara has now safely transported her to Jamnagar. At Vantara, Maniki will receive advanced hospital care, sustained treatment, and a permanent home designed around her comfort and well-being.
A Vantara spokesperson said, "Maniki's health report indicates that she requires comprehensive veterinary attention in a protected and specialised care environment. Her impaired gait, lameness, dehydration, poor body condition, infected wounds, and other health concerns make a structured long-term treatment plan essential. Our immediate priorities include pain management through medication, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture, along with wound care and nutritional rehabilitation, all guided by her welfare and recovery needs. We are grateful to the authorities for their timely intervention and to Ruchi Chetia for his informed decision, which helped enable Maniki's transfer to Vantara for the urgent care she requires."
But Maniki's healing will go beyond medicine. With soft soil and natural substrates to ease pressure on her injured leg, access to natural ponds that can help relieve the weight on her limbs, opportunities to forage naturally, and the companionship of other elephants, she will receive the care, comfort, and dignity she needs every day.
Maniki's rescue is a reminder that collective voice, responsible choices, and coordinated efforts can change the course of an animal's life. With the necessary support and approvals, Maniki now has the opportunity for a safer and more comfortable future. For Maniki, the painful walks are over. At Vantara, she begins a new chapter of healing, care, and peace.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I'm happy Maniki is getting help, I can't help but wonder why it took a viral video for action to be taken. There are thousands of such animals suffering in silence across India. The system needs to be more proactive, not just reactive when there's public outcry. Still, glad she's in good hands now.
As someone who's worked in wildlife conservation in India, I'm impressed by the comprehensive approach here. Pain management, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and even considering her emotional needs by providing companionship? This is world-class care. Kudos to the Assam government and Vantara for making this happen quickly.
Yaar, this made me emotional. Maniki's story is like a Bollywood movie - from suffering alone to getting a team of experts to care for her. But we need to think about the bigger picture too. How many elephants are still in chains, forced to perform in temples and weddings? We need better laws and enforcement to protect all animals. 🙏
Excellent initiative by Reliance Foundation. This is what corporate social responsibility should look like - using resources to save lives and provide proper care. The detail about soft soil and natural ponds shows real expertise in elephant welfare. Hope Maniki recovers fully and has many peaceful years ahead.
I appreciate the rescue, but let's not forget that Maniki's owner is getting praised while she suffered for years before this. The preliminary diagnosis mentions 'infected wounds, impaired vision, dehydration' - these are basic care issues that should never happen to a captive animal. Glad
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