India’s first specialized Elephant Hospital has become a beacon of hope for injured, sick and geriatric elephants, redefining advanced veterinary care for the country’s gentle giants. Located in Churmura village near Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, this unique facility was established in November 2018 by the conservation organisation Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department.
The hospital is dedicated to treating elephants rescued from lives of suffering — including those abused in captivity, injured in accidents, or struggling with age‑related ailments. It is equipped with state‑of‑the‑art medical technology such as wireless digital X‑ray machines, laser treatment, dental X‑ray, thermal imaging, ultrasonography, hydrotherapy pools and a pathology lab, enabling comprehensive diagnostics and care for these massive animals.
Designed to serve as more than just a treatment centre, the facility includes indoor treatment enclosures, quarantine units, an elephant hoist for safe handling, and an observation deck for veterinary students and interns to learn elephant behaviour and medical procedures.
Since its opening, the Elephant Hospital has helped dozens of elephants regain their health and mobility, including geriatric and severely injured individuals like Holly, a blind elephant rescued from begging on the streets and treated through a combination of medical therapies.
The establishment of this hospital marked a historic moment for wildlife care in India — demonstrating a growing commitment to the welfare, rehabilitation and long‑term care of elephants, which hold deep cultural and ecological significance across the country.
