Popular actor Disha Patani spent two days at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) in Mathura and celebrated 'World Environment Day' by drawing attention to the plight of India's jumbos.
During her visit to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, Disha Patani interacted with the Wildlife SOS team and gained valuable insights into the treatment routines implemented at the Elephant Hospital and care centre, which aims to provide essential care to elephants rescued from abusive working conditions.
Disha Patani is primarily known for her work in the Hindi film industry and is recognised for her award winning films. Her Bollywood debut was the biopic M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story. An avid animal lover, Disha passionately advocates her voice for the protection of animals and their welfare.
June 5 is celebrated as World Environment Day to raise awareness about the world's environmental problems and urge people to take individual as well as collective action to help preserve the planet's natural habitats. In India, the natural environments of Asian elephants are also under threat from various factors such as deforestation, causing degradation and destruction of their habitats.
In an effort to contribute to the fight to conserve Asian elephants, Disha Patani spent time at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura. She learnt about how the elephants were rescued from decades of illtreatment and cruelty, leaving them in a battered state.
The Bollywood star engaged in volunteer activities such chopping fruits and vegetables which were distributed to the resident elephants to give them their daily dose of nutrition. Brimming with energy, Disha also lent her hand in creating and distributing enrichments that keep elephants physically and mentally stimulated.
She even had a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art veterinary facilities available at India's first and only Elephant Hospital which is run by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest department. Here she observed the NGO's veterinarians providing treatment such as laser therapy and foot care to one of the resident elephants.
The highlight of the actress' trip, however, was accompanying the elephants on their evening walk. Wildlife SOS aims to create an environment as close to the elephants' natural habitat where they can move across spacious fields adjacent to the centre, allowing them to navigate through the greenery.
Disha Patani said: "This has been one of the special days of my life. Visiting the Elephant Hospital and meeting the Wildlife SOS team has been an incredible experience. I learnt the irreparable damage that riding an elephant does to the welfare of elephants.
Witnessing the medical management of injured elephants and observe their walking exercise routine was also a unique opportunity for me. I hope people come and volunteer at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, and be a part of this fight to help conserve and protect India's elephants."