Saving ‘Begging’ Elephant Hari: Live Updates Of His Journey To Wildlife SOS

Hari, a 25-year-old male makhna (tuskless) elephant, had long been kept captive to beg in and around the Sultanpur and Ayodhya region of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this month, during a routine check, forest department officials came across Hari being walked by his mahout and sought to verify his ownership and documentation. As ownership papers could not be produced at the time, swift action by Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, and his advisor Shri Rushil Shergill, helped the Divisional Forest Officers (DFO) of  Ayodhya and Sultanpur bust the illegal elephant transport. In compliance with wildlife protection laws, Hari was seized to protect him from further exploitation.

Local resistance followed, with protestors blocking the roads. This caused Hari to get anxious from the rising chaos and loud noise. For the safety of all involved and to avoid further disruption in the area, Hari was temporarily secured to a large tree in Haliyapur village while arrangements for his care were undertaken.

This page will continue to update whenever there are new developments on Hari. Please scroll to the bottom to see the latest updates.

14 July 2025

A preliminary group from Wildlife SOS, comprising Dr. Promod Rajpoot and his team, departed for the location where Hari was seized. They arrived at midnight to support the forest medical team in caring for Hari.

15 July 2025

A thorough medical checkup has been conducted on the elephant by Dr. Promod Rajpoot and three government veterinarians. They have noted that the Hari is not in musth. It was found that he had visible marks of ankush or bullhook wounds on his trunk, an abnormal outward deviation at the carpal (wrist) joint of his left front leg and inward deviation of both his hind legs, a sign of degenerative joint disease. One of the hind legs was tied with a spiked chain, which led to injuries. 

16 July 2025

Hari is being given food to enhance his strength and well-being, which includes chapatis (flatbreads), bananas, jowar (sorghum), cucumbers, jaggery, jackfruit and bottle gourd. He eagerly accepted chapatis and bananas first, proving that he is most fond of them. Fodder and constant access to water are being provided to him. Being a young bull, Hari displays occasional heightened energy, which has led the forest and Wildlife SOS team to proceed with caution.

18 July 2025

Curious onlookers began to gather around Hari to catch a glimpse of him, eventually leading to a gathering of a large, uncontrollable crowd. For the safety of medical teams and the elephant, police forces have been deployed for crowd management and protection. Our team continues to take care of the elephant.

July 21, 2025

Official permission to transfer the ailing elephant to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital Campus (EHC) has been granted. The Wildlife SOS ambulance has been dispatched to bring Hari to the treatment facility for medical attention and care.

July 22, 2025

The ambulance has been sanitised and has been loaded with fresh fruits, like watermelons and bananas, and green fodder, keeping Hari’s well-being in mind. However, the team faced significant challenges in getting Hari to board the ambulance — he initially resisted for over three and a half hours, despite careful coaxing. A large crowd of onlookers gathered at the site, but the forest staff and police ensured the situation remained under control. To assist, an earth excavator (JCB) was brought in to dig a pit and lift the entry ramp of the ambulance at an incline that was more comfortable for Hari to climb in. Just as the vehicle was being positioned, the ambulance’s hydraulic lift failed, and a local mechanic from a nearby market was called in. The ambulance was successfully repaired.

Hari has finally boarded the ambulance! The team secured a composed atmosphere for Hari to approach the lowered ramp and enter the ambulance willingly. With Hari safe inside, the team began its journey back to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital Campus.

The team took a brief pit stop en route. Hari was offered water to keep him refreshed, while the staff took a short tea break to recharge before getting back on the road. The convoy has once again started moving, but traffic and monsoon rains are making the journey slow-going. However, Hari seems to be enjoying the cool rain and his tasty treats along the way.

Hari has finally arrived at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital Campus, his new home! The sight of Hari stepping out of the ambulance and into the safety of the hospital grounds was a moment of relief and triumph after hours of cautious travel.

The team welcomed him with fresh fruits, fodder, and cool water, letting him settle into his surroundings at his own pace. In the coming days, his caregivers will begin observing his behaviour closely, along with our medical team, to plan his detailed medical examinations. But tonight, the priority is simply to rest for both Hari and the earnest team that accompanied him through the journey and secured his safety and comfort. There’s a shared sense of gratitude for his resilience, for everyone who made this rescue possible, and for the promise of a better tomorrow. Welcome home, Hari. Your healing begins here.

By making a donation, you can help provide the medical care, specialised nutrition, and love that he so desperately needs.

Feature image: Wildlife SOS/ Vineet Kumar Singh