Bona now a playful patrol trainee
BONA the baby elephant is well on the road to recovery ahead of her second birthday, with the playful mammal now training to become a patrol elephant.
But the road to health wasn't an easy one for the small elephant found severely malnourished only five months ago.
Hervey Bay's Amanda French was one of three Australian volunteers who took up Bona's cause, raising much-needed funds for the elephant that nobody thought would survive.
"When we first heard about Bona in March she was really unhealthy, both mentally and physically," Ms French said.
"She wasn't expected to make it through the month."
Ms French said Bona had made great strides towards a healthy new life thanks to the generous donations of people across the world.
"So far we've spent about $24,000 feeding her and rehabilitating her," she said.
Bona is expected to celebrate her birthday on October 24 according to Ms French, who said the happy elephant had already begun her training to work as a patrol elephant.
"She has started her basic training towards her future as a conservation patrol elephant and she's doing very well," she said.
Fraser Coast locals can keep track of Bona's progress by visiting her Facebook page facebook.com/savebona.
