Kerala   

Rejuvenation therapy for elephants

T. Ramavarman

GURUVAYUR: The annual `sukhachikitsa' (restorative therapy) for elephants of the Guruvayur Devaswom began at the Punnathur Kotta (Punnathur Palace), located 2 km away from the temple, on Tuesday.

Punnathur Kotta, popularly known as `Aanakotta' (elephant yard), is claimed to be having the largest collection of captive elephants in the world, playing host to 62 elephants belonging to the Devaswom. During the 30 days of `sukhachikitsa' all the elephants barring those in `musth' will receive a sumptuous and nutritious diet mixed with ayurvedic and allopathic medicines after a detailed and well-massaged bath in the ponds on the sprawling `aanakotta' premises.

The diet ingredients include special variety of rice, greengram, horsegram, turmeric powder and ragi as well as the ayurvedic rejuvenation medicines. Allopathic medical supplements like maltvirons as well as minerals and salts are also given to the elephants daily during the `sukhachikitsa', Devaswom veterinary officer T.C.R. Nambiar told The Hindu here.

The Devaswom has allocated Rs. 6.5 lakhs in its budget for the therapy, assistant manager in charge of the `aanakotta' A.K. Unnikrishnan said.

The Devaswom had started the restoration therapy for elephants in a small way back in 1982, but it later turned into a systematic and major programme. The elephants had been showing considerable increase in body weight— about 150 kg to 250 kg— after the therapy, said elephant expert and veterinarian Muraleedharan Nair.

There was a significant change in the behaviour of the elephants after the therapy, said another elephant expert K.C. Panikker.

The Devaswom was the pioneer in launching such an initiative for augmenting the health of the captive elephants. Now some other Devaswoms like the Cochin Devaswom Board, Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms have also started similar programmes.

The Tamil Nadu Government had also launched a 45-day restorative therapy programme for captive elephants at the forest camp at Muthumala, Dr. Panikker said. Private parties could bring their elephants to the camp and the Tamil Nadu Government would bear the expense.

Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran inaugurated the restoration therapy by giving the special feed to the elephant Gopikannan.

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