The rehabilitation process at the Elephant Transit Home is carefully structured to ensure the elephants regain the skills needed to survive in the wild. Here’s how the process works:

1. Immediate Medical Care

When an orphaned elephant first arrives at the facility, the primary focus is on providing immediate medical attention. Young elephants are often weak, malnourished, or injured from encounters with humans or wild animals. The first step is to assess their health and provide the necessary treatment, including vaccination and wound care.

2. Nutritional Support

The young elephants receive specialized milk substitutes, carefully formulated to match the nutritional value of their mother’s milk. This is a critical stage of rehabilitation. The elephants are fed several times a day to help them regain strength. As they grow older, they begin to transition to solid food, including fruits, grass, and vegetables—foods that they would naturally consume in the wild.

3. Socialization with Other Elephants

One of the key aspects of rehabilitation at ETH is socialization. Elephants are highly social animals, and learning to interact with other elephants is an essential part of their recovery. The orphans are introduced to other elephants in the facility, which allows them to learn important behaviors like foraging, playing, and establishing social bonds within the herd.

4. Preparing for the Wild

As the elephants grow and become more self-sufficient, the next step is preparing them for release. ETH provides a controlled, semi-wild environment where elephants can practice the skills they need in the wild, such as finding food, establishing territories, and interacting with other elephants. When they are ready, ETH works with the DWC to reintroduce these elephants to suitable areas in the wild, ensuring that they have a good chance of surviving and thriving.