Meet Chhouk, The Elephant With A Prosthetic Foot

Rescued in 2007, Chhouk has lived at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC) where Wildlife Alliance veterinarians and animal husbandry specialists tend to his special needs.

Baby Chhouk was found in 2007 wandering in the Srepok Wilderness area, seriously emaciated and in obvious pain due to a severe foot injury.

No more than a year old, Chhouk had lost the bottom portion of his left front leg, most likely due to a poacher's snare.

Wildlife Alliance staff spent two weeks in the jungle earning Chhouk's trust, feeding him and calming him down.

The staff recognized that the elephant would never be able to survive on his own in the wild and so arranged for Chhouk to be transported to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center (PTWRC) where Wildlife Alliance veterinarians and animal husbandry specialists could attend to his special needs.

After a 26-hour journey through dense forest, Chhouk arrived at PTWRC where he received expert veterinary care for his foot.

With dedicated veterinary care, Wildlife Alliance staff was able to see to the healing of his leg wound and eradication of his infections

Chhouk was housed alongside four other rescued Asian elephants at PTWRC.

He formed a special bond with Lucky, an older female elephant, who took the youngster under her wing.

Sadly, the damage caused by his missing foot was threatening Chhouk's spine and hips.

The stress on elephants’ legs is already great and with Chhouk off balance, he was at risk of developing bone deformities. Wildlife Alliance animal care specialists determined that the only way to address his mobility and pain issues would be to fit him with a prosthetic foot.

A partnership was formed with the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, with financial support from the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, to build Chhouk a prosthesis.

Immediately after being fitted with the foot, Chhouk’s issues improved rapidly.

He is now on his fifth foot as he continues to grow and require new prostheses to match his size and boundless energy!

Chhouk’s story and survival against all odds have made him a global ambassador for Asian elephant conservation and the plight of elephants in Cambodia specifically.

Help Wildlife Alliance to continue supporting Chhouk by sponsoring him at http://bit.ly/1jXDx4b

To learn more about Chhouk and the other animals living at Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, visit us at www.wildlifealliance.org!