The Gentle Giant
Matilda's april 2009 update
After her rescue, Matilda’s strength and appetite increased considerably. Her health problems, however, have persisted during her stay in Sri Lanka. Happily, Hilda is now doing much better and becoming more comfortable with the other elephants at the ETH.

A Slow Recovery
At the end of last year, Matilda’s health declined severely. The veterinarians discovered a tapeworm living in her intestinal track, which was causing digestion problems. Fortunately they were able to treat the illness without impeding Matilda’s integration into the main herd at the ETH.
An Elephant Never Gives Up
The hard work of the ETH veterinarians – and Matilda’s strong will – have paid off. She is now a fringe participant in the main herd, and she is forming stronger bonds every day. She is still shy, preferring to let the others proceed before she takes her milk, but the ETH staff views her behavior as healthy and appropriate. We look forward to hearing the news of Matilda’s release into the wild!