Now a jumbo size 'healing shoes' for temple elephant

[Guest guest]

The following news-report is from the Hyderabad edition of The Hindu dated

September 9, 2005

The elephant wears the shoes for a couple of hours every day and its wounds

have begun to heal.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

Blue Cross of India

 

Now a jumbo size 'healing' shoes

 

Temple elephant gets micro cellular rubber shoes for its ulcerated legs.

 

Special Correspondent

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Tirupati: After a fortnight long treatment for its ulcerated hind-legs, it

is time now for the Srikalahasti temple elephant to get a new pair of Micro

Cellular Rubber (MCR) shoes.

 

The 45-year old pachyderm, Saraswathi, which used to slog for nearly 15

years a day by standing in front of the temple and " entertain " the pilgrims,

got a relief from the " standing " orders only when Tirupati-based Animal Care

Land intervened at the instance of the Blue Cross of India.

 

The end of ordeals for the jumbo began once the NGO and the Mandal Animal

Husbandry officer took up its cause and secured its immediate release from

its three mahouts. The veterinary team led by Dr. Poovizhi put it under a

constant medicare - a daily dressing after cleaning its ulcerated hind legs

with a specially made 'balm'. The NGO, led by its Project Coordinator,

N.V. Amarendra Babu on Thursday took a overseas team of animal enthusiasts

to the temple. The team comprising Ingrid Leary and Frank Atu from Pasifika

Pictures Ltd., New Zealand and John Coghil from Projector Media, UK is

currently in India as part of a study. They oversaw and also picturised

the veterinary team helping the elephant to shove its hind legs into a pair

of newly cobbled-up shining black shoes.