Hydrotherapy pool being created at Elephant Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre near Tiruchi
The Forest Department is establishing a hydrotherapy pool at the Elephant Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at M.R. Palayam near Tiruchi.
Situated along Tiruchi-Chennai national highway, the centre now serves as a home for nine captive elephants that were translocated from various districts over the years after they were found to have been abused and neglected by their private owners.
Run by the Forest Department, the centre takes care of the physical and psychological requirements of the captive pachyderms. Along with a host of other facilities, work on establishing a hydrotherapy pool within the nearly 20-hectare centre has begun and is expected to be completed soon.
The pool is being created with funds provided by Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation under Corporate Social Responsibility, said District Forest Officer, Tiruchi, S. Krithiga.
The pool can accommodate one elephant at a time. Water will be filled inside the nearly eight-foot deep pool from borewells that were sunk inside the centre to cater to the requirements of the pachyderms, mahouts, kavadis and forest personnel.
'The hydrotherapy pool is essentially meant for old and sick elephants with muscle weakness in their legs, Ms. Krithiga said, adding that a ramp would be put in place to enable the animals to enter and exit the structure.
'The facility is being set up to help the elephants with muscle weakness to soak their legs in clean and fresh water to reduce swelling and inflammation and relieve them of the pain', Ms. Krithiga said.
This will be done as per the recommendation of the veterinarian. Some captive elephants were found with muscle weakness when they were translocated to the centre since they were made to stand on the concrete platform, leading to complications, Ms. Krithiga said.
The department will also create an encirclement area within the centre soon where the elephants would be left to play on the green lawn. Every captive elephant is being taken care of by a mahout and a kavadi. The elephants are being taken for a walk in the morning and evening within the centre, which functions in a reserve forest area at M.R. Palayam. The total area of the M.R. Palayam reserve forest is around 265 acres.
There is a diet chart being followed for the elephants whose health condition is being monitored by a veterinarian periodically. As per the advice of the veterinarian, a modified diet is being followed in view of the ongoing summer season. Foggers have been installed in the shelters to keep the animals in a cool environment. The animals are taken for water and mud baths inside the centre which is equipped with surveillance cameras.
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