World Elephant Day is being observed today, August 12, to raise awareness about elephant conservation and the need to protect these majestic animals. Elephants are known not only for their enormous size but also for their intelligence, strong social bonds and complex emotional behaviour.
At Nandankanan Zoological Park near Bhubaneswar, four female elephants — Basanti, Hira, Lisa and Asha — are currently living under the care of the zoo authorities.
Elephants known for intelligence and social bonds
Elephants are highly social animals that generally live in groups and maintain strong relationships within their herds. Their intelligence and ability to respond to social situations have made them the subject of extensive scientific research.
Their behaviour is often associated with empathy, cooperation and social awareness. These characteristics make elephants one of the most fascinating species in the animal kingdom.
Nandankanan’s four female elephants
Basanti was brought to Nandankanan from the Vandalur Zoo in Tamil Nadu on October 13, 1985. She was 21 years old and pregnant at the time.
Hira arrived at Nandankanan from the Chandaka Forest Division on December 16, 1998, when she was around one month old.
The zoo’s younger elephants, Lisa and Asha, were rescued from Odisha’s forest divisions.
Lisa was rescued from the Keonjhar Forest Division on November 24, 2023, when she was around one month old. Asha was rescued from the Angul Forest Division on January 7, 2024, when she was about two months old.
Both elephants are now around 3.5 years old and have become much-loved members of the Nandankanan family.
Asha received treatment for a serious leg injury
When Asha was brought to Nandankanan, she had a deep cut injury around the carpal or wrist region of her right front leg.
An X-ray revealed a fracture in the injured area. Veterinarians at Nandankanan successfully treated her injury, allowing Asha to recover and grow under professional care.
Today, Asha and Lisa are among the younger elephants at the zoo and have attracted considerable affection from visitors and staff.
Why World Elephant Day matters
World Elephant Day highlights the importance of protecting elephants, their natural habitats and their social groups. It also draws attention to challenges such as habitat loss, human-elephant conflict and the need for responsible wildlife conservation.
The stories of rescued elephants such as Asha and Lisa underline the importance of timely rescue, veterinary care and long-term conservation efforts.
As Nandankanan celebrates its elephants, the presence of Asha, Lisa, Hira and Basanti offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about these intelligent and socially complex animals and the importance of protecting them.
