Elephant Injured in Train Collision at 9 Months Old Gets Holiday Treats in Sweet Video

Bani, a female Asian elephant, was 9 months old when Wildlife SOS rescued her from a train collision. Now, over a year later, Bani is thriving, celebrating Christmas with some delicious holiday treats.

In a video shared by Wildlife SOS, Bani can be seen eating melon, bananas, and plenty of greens. Her holiday feast was prepared by two Wildlife SOS workers dressed up as Santa, and her table was even decorated with red and silver stars. Hanging above Bani are Christmas wreaths made with bananas and various other festive decorations.

Wildlife SOS shared why they went so full-out for the holidays, telling PEOPLE, “As the year comes to a close, Wildlife SOS is marking the holidays with elephants who were once injured, exploited, or displaced…and who are now thriving under long-term care.”

The organization also shared photos of Bani, adding, “The images capture a rare, quiet moment of joy…a reminder that conservation isn’t only about rescue, but about giving animals the chance to live with comfort, safety, and dignity.”

Bani was first rescued by Wildlife SOS in 2024. The conservation and wildlife protection organization found Bani abandoned by her herd next to a train track — a speeding train had collided with Bani, resulting in significant injuries to her spine, hips and legs, leaving her unable to walk.

Taken to Wildlife SOS’s Elephant Hospital Campus, where she currently resides, Bani has shown extreme determination and resilience in her healing process. She is the first-ever infant elephant under Wildlife SOS’s care, who named Bani after Mother Earth. The Elephant Hospital Campus is located in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Wildlife SOS has rescued an abundance of elephants over the years apart from Bani, each with their own ailments. There’s a male named Vayu who arrived in 2025 severely malnourished, a female named Arya who arrived in 2020 completely blind in both eyes, and a male named Walnut who was rescued from a circus in 2015, among many others. For each rescued animal, Wildlife SOS shares their story, along with some of their favorite foods and hobbies.

Bani’s favorite foods include bananas and green fodder, and some of her favorite activities include lying in the sun and taking dust baths.

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Present on most social media platforms, Wildlife SOS has shared photos and videos of Bani on their Instagram as well, always receiving an abundance of loving comments. When they shared Bani’s Christmas feast to Instagram, comments included “Baby Bani, your Light always shines through so brightly,” and “Sending lots of love and Christmas cheer to Bani 🐘.”

Wildlife SOS captioned their YouTube video of Bani with a heartfelt message: “December brings the shortest days of the year, peace, good food, festivities and cherished time with friends and family. It’s a time to appreciate kindness, generosity and of course, freedom. Enthusiasm grips the staff of Wildlife SOS as they share their love with the elephants in their care and prepare a feast for the gentle giants. 🕊️🙏🏽”