
6 months ago
An eerily tranquil yet devastating scene of a once-thriving elephant sanctuary almost entirely submerged under a vast, murky expanse of water. Only the very tops of a few palm trees and the remnants of some wooden structures peek out from the waterline, serving as stark reminders of the life that once bustled here. The sanctuary's main path, now a submerged trail, weaves through the water, leading to a central area where the stilts of the mahouts' houses poke out like skeletal fingers grasping for the surface. The waterlogged shadows of what used to be elephant sheds stretch out in rows, their thatched roofs now a mere whisper above the water. The activity spaces, which were once filled with the joyful sounds of elephants frolicking and playing, are now silent and barren, with only a hint of their outlines discernible beneath the water's opaque veil. The scene is bathed in a soft, mournful light that filters through the overcast sky, casting a pall over the inundated landscape. The water itself is a still, reflective mirror, capturing the tragedy of the washed-away lives and the resilience of nature that has reclaimed the space. The only sign of life is the solitary figure of a mahout and elephants in the distance, standing on a small patch of dry land, looking out over the flood with a mix of sorrow and hope, his connection to the displaced elephants palpable.