Date:23/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072356060500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Salem

Veterinarians examine elephant

Staff Reporter

— Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

With care: Assistant Professor K.S. Subramanian from Madras Veterinary College examining ‘Rajeshwari’, the elephant of Sri Sukavaneshwarar Temple in Salem on Tuesday.

SALEM: A team of veterinarians led by Assistant Professor K.S. Subramanian of Madras Veterinary College examined the feet of the 33-year-old elephant ‘Rajeshwari,’ here on Tuesday.

The elephant of Sri Sukavaneshwarar Temple here was suffering bad feet for long.

Mr. Subramanian examined the elephant as part of the Centre-funded project on foot problems in captive elephants.

Treatment

He gave suggestions to the veterinarians in the animal husbandry department here and the temple authorities regarding treatment.

“Foot care is very important to elephants. The captive elephants will not face any problems if regular foot care is extended. I have asked the temple authorities to ensure good care to ‘Rajeshwari’,” he said.

The team collected samples, which would be analysed in Chennai shortly. The veterinarians here would be given further advice regarding the treatment based on the sample analysis.