Six-month-old baby elephant ‘Clear Sky’ tries to stay afloat at the beginning of a hydrotherapy session at a local veterinary clinic in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

‘Clear Sky’ did not seem to enjoy the water and looked relieved when she was lifted out of a pool by her guardians after a hydrotherapy session.

After losing part of her left foot in a snare at three months old, the baby elephant is now learning to walk again in water.

Veterinarian Padet Siridumrong said Fah Jam, who is now five months old, was showing signs of improvement following initial water-based exercises

During her hydrotherapy sessions, she is kept afloat by a harness as her guardians at the clinic help her to find her feet again.

A six-month-old elephant named “Clear Sky” is the first of her kind to receive hydrotherapy treatment at an animal hospital in Chonburi province, a few hours from Bangkok. Clear Sky lost part of her left foot in a trap set by villagers to protect their crops. The goal of the hydrotherapy treatment is to strengthen the withered muscles in her front leg. After a few sessions, Clear Sky is expected to enjoy swimming more. Despite being a bit scared at first, elephants are known to love water. The treatment could last up to two months, but vets are hopeful that Clear Sky will be able to walk again after her treatment.

The six-month-old is the first elephant to receive hydrotherapy treatment at the animal hospital in Chonburi province, which is a few hours from Bangkok.

After losing part of her left foot in a snare, the baby elephant, whose name in Thai is Fah Jam, is being cared for by humans.

Happier out of the water, Clear Sky stands on her hind legs in her corral at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden park. The goal of her hydrotherapy treatment is to strengthen the withered muscles in her front leg, which was wounded three months ago in an animal trap laid by villagers to protect their crops.

Veterinarian Padet Siridumrong tends to the elephant’s injured leg after a hydrotherapy session while she enjoys a bottle of milk from one of her guardians.

There are only about 3,700 elephants left in the wild in Thailand and up to 4,000 domesticated ones, according to conservation charities working in the country. The elephant is a symbol of Thailand, and in ancient times, they were used to carry soldiers into battle. They were also used in the logging industry. But logging has been banned, and many domesticated elephants have ended up on the tourist trail, giving rides and putting on displays in shows. Animal rights groups have criticized the use of elephants in the tourism industry, arguing that the animals are often mistreated. There are about 3,700 elephants left in the wild in Thailand and up to 4,000 domesticated ones, according to EleAid, a British organization working for the conservation of the Asian elephant. Deforestation, rapid urbanization, and poaching of elephants for their ivory have all contributed to a dramatic decline in the wild elephant population.

Clear Sky takes a breather during a session as she struggles to adjust to walking in the water while learning to find her feet

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