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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Here's a handy guide to keep feet of captive elephants healthy
COIMBATORE: The health of captive elephants is expected to improve with the launch of new guidelines focused on foot health on Tuesday. The guide 'Healthy Feet, Healthy Elephants' has been prepared by the Project Elephant and the Elephant Cell at the Wildlife Institute of India. It has included recommendations from an expert committee on maintaining captive elephants in a hygienic atmosphere. Foot problems are among the leading causes of morbidity in captive elephants. Their feet are particularly vulnerable to a range of ailments that can significantly impact their health, comfort, and longevity. Limited movement, altered foraging behaviour and exposure to artificial substrates are prime factors. Abscesses, cracks, foot rot, arthritis, and even fatal infections are often found in captive elephants. The guide will provide a deep understanding of the biological and anatomical basis of the elephant feet, diet, and impact of substrate on foot health. It offers practical, hands-on instructions for foot inspection, trimming, treatment and prevention. The document also helps the budding veterinarians to do quick reference and is a training resource that encourages regular, preventive foot care. "One of the most important aspects of an elephant is its foot. For an elephant, the foot is as important as the heart, and the new guidelines will be useful for the veterinarians, temple authorities, and private owners to take care of the animals," said Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, who released the guide during the World Elephant Day 2025 celebration in Coimbatore on Tuesday. Dr N Kalaivanan, Forest Veterinary Officer at the Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve and one of the contributors to the guide, said "In humans, cattle, and most other wild animals, the digits (fingers and toes) are separated. If one gets infected, it can affect the entire leg. But in elephants, the digits are structured together to support their massive weight. Elephants actually stand on their toes, and an average adult weighs between 4,000 and 4,500 kilograms. They also use their feet to communicate by stomping the ground, sending seismic signals that other elephants can detect up to a kilometer away. Remarkably, they can even sense seismic waves from earthquakes occurring as far as 100 km away.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Mother elephant under treatment for infection near Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: A mother elephantthat was lifted using a sling in a crane on Sunday, is being treated for throat infection and inflammation in its organs at the Maruthamalai foothills near Coimbatore. On Monday, the animal allowed veterinarians to administer anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers through IV, with the help of a Kumki elephant, 'Urigan', and elephant trackers. A team of veterinarians — N Kalaivanan, Forest Veterinary Surgeon of Megamalai Tiger Reserve, A Sugumar, Forest Veterinary Officer of Coimbatore and A Vijayaragavan, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) — treated the animal on Monday and said the animal is well. 'We have been treating the animal, based on a blood test that was done on the elephant. The animal's health has slightly improved. We have performed water therapy as well to keep the animal hydrated. There are no injuries in the mouth,' a forest department official said. DFO N Jayaraj said that the three-year-old calf is still in the forest along with the herd and a separate team of 40 staff from the Coimbatore forest division is monitoring it.
