Kerala - Kochi   

Rejuvenating therapy for jumbos

Staff Reporter

MAMMOTH EXERCISE: A medical camp was held for jumbos in Kochi on Sunday in the wake of reports about widespread prevalence of diseases among domesticated elephants. Photo: H. Vibhu

KOCHI : A medical camp organised in Thripunithura on Sunday for elephants was the first of its kind and promises a healthier future for the hundreds of domesticated pachyderms across the State that are employed mainly in logging and ceremonial occasions.

Elephant Care, a newly formed group of elephant lovers, owners and veterinary doctors, felt nothing much was being done for the elephants that were part and parcel of the State's culture. The medical camp, conducted in the heart of Thripunithura town, was a debut action by Elephant Care that plans to do much more for the care of elephants.

Twenty elephants took part in the camp. They were attended to by a team of 10 veterinary doctors led by P.C. Panikkar.

The veterinarians collected samples of blood and dung from the elephants.

They also conducted a thorough check-up of the eyes and feet of the elephants.

The camp was conducted even as the festival season is on and amid reports that several elephants were suffering from tuberculosis.

Sudhakaran Nair, president of Elephant Care, said the camp was organised as a first public action by his organisation to educate people on elephant care.

The camp aroused a lot of curiosity among people in Thripunithura as hundreds gathered at the aanaparampu, close to the Poornathrayisa temple, to watch the vets attending to the elephants.

A public meeting followed in the evening at the Kalikotta Palace where Elephant Care activists explained the intricacies of caring for elephants. Mr. Nair said Elephant Care has plans to set up a reference library on elephant care.

It will put together studies conducted by elephant experts, findings from observing elephants and knowledge from other countries. Elephant Care is also panning to set up a place to take care of old or abandoned elephants on the model of elephant refuges in Sri Lanka. Setting up of a jumbo orphanage would involve a lot of money and space and Elephant Care hopes that the State Government would be able to assist it in its endeavour.

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