22/05/2023
Manu, 6 year old male elephant calf, was suffering from muscular pain and inflammation in his left hind leg. He was rescued from Nilambur Akampadam forest area at the age of 4 months and brought to Elephant Rehabilitation centre ,Kottoor on 17/04/2017. Thereafter we have been providing him best healthcare under the supervision of Asst. Forest veterinary surgeon, stationed at the centre. Sri. Pushkaran Nair, a well- experienced mahout, with more than a decade long career in elephant care is nurturing this baby elephant with parental love and affection. Sri. Raveendran Kani, the assistant mahout and assistants of Forest Veterinary officer are also attending to his day to day needs.
But unfortunately on 04.04.2023, the mahouts found that Manu had a difficulty in moving his left hind leg, following which he was throughly examined by the Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer in presence of the Wildlife Warden. He found that his leg was inflammated and was reluctant to take food. Soon after, under the guidance and supervision of Chief forest veterinary officer Shri. Arun Zachariah, treatment of Manu has been initiated. On the first phase of treatment, he was given analgesics, antibiotics and targeted anti- inflammatory injections. Within two days, he has shown sufficient progress by taking in food and resuming his normal sleep- wake cycle. But his problem with supporting his body in hind legs persisted. His condition has shown sufficient progress in due course and on 10/05/2023, Dr.Rajeev, Assistant Director, Thiruvananthapuram Multi- speciality Veterinary hospital, a renowned surgeon who is having more than a decade long career in the treatment of Thiruvithamcore Dewaswom Board elephants, examined Manu and the treatment style prescribed by him was following then on. It is in this scenario that some news appeared that there is a lag in Manu's treatment.
In between, an ad-hoc expert panel was constituted for the treatment of Manu, under Chief Veterinary Officer Shri, Arun Zachariah, with Dr. Shyam.K.Venugopal, Head of the Department of Surgery, Kerala Veterinary University, Dr. Madhavan Unni, HOD, Clinical wing, KVU, Dr.Dinesh, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, KVU, Dr.Rajeev, Assistant Director, Multi-speciality Veterinary hospital, Thiruvananthapuram and Dr. Sibi, Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer, Kollam. The ongoing treatment of Manu will be continued as per the directions of this panel after thorough examinations.
