At Yamunanagar Center, elephants use cucumber and watermelon to combat the heat

The elephants at the Ch Surinder Singh Elephant Rehabilitation Centre, which is located in the Yamunanagar district’s Ban Santour region, have a new menu as summer approaches.

These days, they consume watermelon, pumpkin, cucumbers, bananas, and other seasonal fruits and vegetables. In addition, they are given green fodder, khichdi, and oatmeal.

Their food has been designed to provide them with enough protection from the heat throughout this intense summer.

“The elephants are fed seasonal fruits and vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and pumpkins throughout the winter months. They add sesame oil to their khichdi. Older elephants are also administered chyavanprash to strengthen their immunity. In addition, Jayvinder Nehra, an inspector with the WildLife Department, said that throughout the winter months, elephants are massaged with sesame oil.

Four rescued elephants are reportedly housed at this rehabilitation facility.

These elephants are all female; the oldest is over 80 years old, while the youngest is around 40. In 2013, Chanchal (80) and Lakshmi (65) were sent to this center after being rescued from Samalkha in the Panipat area. In 2014, Lily (40) was relocated here after being saved from the Sirsa neighborhood. In 2019, Lakshmi-II (60) was brought here after being rescued from Delhi.

Five artificial water tanks are located at this center to provide elephants with drinkable water. Elephants like bathing in the two pakka ponds and one natural kachcha pond, according to Jayvinder Nehra, the Yamunanagar district’s inspector of the Wildlife Department (extra charge).

According to him, the elephants are kept healthy by being taken for daily walks of 5–6 kilometers in the morning.

This rehabilitation center houses only elephants who have been rescued. This rehabilitation center was built in 2007 and can accommodate up to 20 elephants, according to forest ranger Harish Dhiman, who is in charge of the animals.