Hari & Vayu

To most people in India, nothing says Diwali like the glow of diyas, the sweet sensation of melting mithai (tradition Indian sweets), and the warmth of reconnecting with family and friends.

This Diwali, for savewildlife.art, it was about giving a brighter future to rescue elephants.

Hari & Vayu are two bull elephants recently rescued by Wildlife SOS. Hari was a begging elephant, who suffered immeasurable agony as he was walked on the hot asphalt streets of Uttar Pradesh, commanded by the vicious call of an ankush (bullhook). Vayu, a handsome and large tusker was a logging elephant, worked to the point of collapse in the forests of Northeast India. Both these elephants were rescued by Wildlife SOS and now are receiving the urgent medical care, food, rest and love they need to live out the rest of their days in relative calm.

With your support, through the sale of wildlife-inspired Diwali cards, we were collectively able to raise enough money to sponsor the care of Hari & Vayu for a year. A true Diwali story where light conquers darkness, good conquers evil and knowledge vanquishes ignorance.

So, who is Hari?

In an email interview with Rishabh Mehta from Wildlife SOS, this is what we learned:

1. Favorite Food - Bananas! Hari's caregivers have noticed that, similar to a few people I know, the key to this bull's happiness is food. Hari enjoys his regular elephant fodder made of bajra (pearl millet), brown rice, millets and rock salt. And he is also good with his veggies - crunching down cucumbers and bottle gourd with gusto.

2. Best Friend - since Hari has only just arrived at the Elephant Care & Conservation Centre, he hasn't yet made a lot of elephant friends. But he is getting to know his caretaker - Vineet Singh - and they enjoy many walks to the Yamuna together.

3. One Cool Thing - in the summer, Hari became a water baby, loving every minute of the pool in his enclosure. After years of abuse when in captivity, Hari's severely strained joints and foot pads found therapeutic relief in the pool, and he would close his eyes and raise his trunk in delight whenever he went into the water.

L to R: Hari with Vineet Singh, Hari grazing by the Yamuna, Hari on alert near the Yamuna

© Wildlife SOS

And what about Vayu?

1. Best Feature - Unmistakably, Vayu's most striking feature are his beautiful tusks, making this elephant a very handsome bull. Vayu is big and strong and hence was used for forest logging in Northeast India for many years. When Wildlife SOS first came across him through Haathi Sewa - India's first mobile elephant clinic program, he had been badly injured in a fall, causing permanent damage to one of his hind limbs.

2. Favorite part of the Day at WSOS - Treats and enrichment are Vayu's favorite part of the day. He loves watermelons and is always curious to play and interact with the hanging enrichment fodder made of sugarcane. If you pass by Vayu during enrichment time you will see him using his mind and trunk to deftly grasp the enrichment treats swinging from a height.

3. Is He a A Good Patient? - He is a very good patient. Wildlife SOS vets have noticed how gentle, cooperative and calm Vayu is during his medicated foot baths. At the Elephant Hospital, a mix of ointment and anti inflammatory balms are applied to bring relief to his feet and wounds.

L to R: Vayu with Adul on his evening walk, Vayu by the Yamuna, Vayu at the Elephant Hospital

© Wildlife SOS

On Diwali, Ram returned to the Kingdom of Ayodhya guided by a trail of diyas. Similarly, the cards you purchase are the 'diyas' that guide Hari and Vayu through their journey of healing and recovery.