There were many critical wildlife cases this month in which the Animal Rahat team’s intervention meant the difference between life and death. One especially moving case involved a young hyena. This fellow had fallen down a deep well, and there was no way that he could get out by himself.

Do you see that little gray figure by the left wall? That’s him! Here’s a close-up:

It was not an easy rescue because the poor hyena was absolutely panicked. However, with the use of a dog net, organization staffers pulled him up and transported him to a reliable wildlife rehabilitation center.

There is also good news about Ram Prasad and Gajraj, the two temple elephants Animal Rahat staffers have been helping. As you may recall, despite serious resistance from temple authorities, the team convinced them over the summer to allow Rahat staff to administer a vaccine that is supposed to be effective in suppressing musth. Musth is a hormonal surge during which male elephants become extremely aggressive out of sheer desperation to escape and mate. During this time, the mahouts chain them by all four legs and stay away, because the elephants could easily kill anyone who gets too close. Their world becomes a living hell during this time, and it can last for months.

Organization staff have all been waiting with bated breath in the months since the vaccination took place, and it appears that it is working—neither elephant has gone into musth! Furthermore, their health has improved, as has their level of care.

Green grass is being included in Ram Prasad’s diet, and he is being taken for walks twice daily. In addition, the temple authorities have at last signed a document agreeing to a variety of responsibilities for Ram Prasad’s care—responsibilities that Animal Rahat’s team have long tried to get them to commit to in writing.