New Delhi (NVI): Ramu, a young elephant suffering from severe osteoarthritis, has travelled all the way from Ranchi to Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital, country’s first elephant hospital, in Mathura for specialised medical treatment.
Unable to walk because of osteoarthritis related pain and inflammation the young elephant needed urgent medical care.
At the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital in Mathura Ramu will undergo specialised treatments like laser therapy, hydrotherapy, digital radiology, thermal imaging, etc under the care of four veterinarians and elephant care team.
The Jharkhand Forest Department contacted the Wildlife SOS regarding the deteriorating medical condition of Ramu. The Forrest Department officials requested the Elephant Hospital in Mathura for urgent admission of the ailing elephant at the country’s first elephant hospital for medical care.
“The Jharkhand Forest department had requested to send Ramu for medical care to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital and we issued a written permission for the same so that he could receive good medical care,” said Sunil Pandey, Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh.
After the Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttar Pradesh issued a written permission for the elephant to be brought to the Elephant Hospital from Ranchi an elephant care team from Wildlife SOS reached Ranchi to bond with the ailing young elephant and to help facilitate his medical care.
According to the elephant hospital officials a veterinary team was dispatched to Ranchi with medical equipment for providing immediate relief to the 19-year-old elephant. The medical team also conducted assessments if Ramu was fit to be transported to the Elephant Hospital in Mathura.
Only after the approval from veterinary team Ramu was allowed to travel in a special elephant ambulance along with a team of expert veterinarians and elephant care givers from an NGO.
“We transferred Ramu to the Mathura’s elephant hospital where he can get the best medical care. His recovery is of our utmost concern,” said PK Verma, Chief Wildlife Warden, Jharkhand.
According to Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar, Senior Veterinarian, Wildlife SOS the laser therapy treatment has already started to ease his pain and give relief to Ramu’s stiff joints.
