Injured jumbo calf responds well to treatment
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UDHAGAMANDALAM: As part of the treatment for elephant calf Ranga, which
recently had a fall in the elephant camp at Theppakadu in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), Nilgiris, a mobile X-ray unit was brought in from a private hospital
in Coimbatore to take an X-ray of its limbs and shoulder.
Two-and-a-half year old Ranga had a fall inside the camp on December 9,
while performing one its routine activities.
A Ameer Haja, deputy director of the MTR and Mukurthi National Park
A Ameer Haja, deputy director of the MTR and Mukurthi National Park
said that the calf
had suffered a sideways fall where its front limbs were severely
injured. Ranga suffered a ligament tear and dislocation of bones in its
front limbs and shoulder. "The calf was housed at the camp in Theppakadu
when it was just 15 days old, in 2010. Since it did not have the
privilege of its mother's feed, it lacks immunity," said Haja.
A team of veterinarian doctors, comprising Dr. Panikkar from Kerala, forest department doctors N.S. Manoharan and Vijayaraghavan, faculty members of TN veterinary college and veterinarians from the state Animal Husbandry department, are attending to the calf round the clock. "As per the instruction of the elephant specialist, Panikar, the doctors are treating Ranga. Also to ascertain the dislocation of its shoulder joint, a mobile X-ray machine was brought in to MTR from the PSG hospital in Coimbatore," said Haja.
On investigating Ranga's health records, the doctors found that it had always been weak, and was often found dehydrated. It also suffered bouts of diarrhea frequently. A team headed by Haja, comprising Pushpakaran, MTR range officer and other forest officials is camping at the spot.
As the calf is unable to feed on fodder, it has been fed with milk and required supplements including vitamins and other minerals along with oral medicines. The veterinarians attending to him say that Ranga is responding to treatment and recovering well. The male calf was found abandoned in Sirumugai forest area when it was just 15 days old in May 2010. Forest officials initially attempted to reunite it with its mother but in vain. Consequently, it was housed within the Mudumalai sanctuary where it has remained ever since.
A team of veterinarian doctors, comprising Dr. Panikkar from Kerala, forest department doctors N.S. Manoharan and Vijayaraghavan, faculty members of TN veterinary college and veterinarians from the state Animal Husbandry department, are attending to the calf round the clock. "As per the instruction of the elephant specialist, Panikar, the doctors are treating Ranga. Also to ascertain the dislocation of its shoulder joint, a mobile X-ray machine was brought in to MTR from the PSG hospital in Coimbatore," said Haja.
On investigating Ranga's health records, the doctors found that it had always been weak, and was often found dehydrated. It also suffered bouts of diarrhea frequently. A team headed by Haja, comprising Pushpakaran, MTR range officer and other forest officials is camping at the spot.
As the calf is unable to feed on fodder, it has been fed with milk and required supplements including vitamins and other minerals along with oral medicines. The veterinarians attending to him say that Ranga is responding to treatment and recovering well. The male calf was found abandoned in Sirumugai forest area when it was just 15 days old in May 2010. Forest officials initially attempted to reunite it with its mother but in vain. Consequently, it was housed within the Mudumalai sanctuary where it has remained ever since.
I visited the camp in March 2013 (nearly a year after this article) & the elephant calf, Ranga was stilll in the same position (lying on this side) and existing on meds. If there is a god, are you listening, boss?
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