Agra, Dec 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Crippled and emaciated, Lakshmi -- also known as "India's Skinniest Elephant" -- is suffering from severe lameness, arthritis, chronic accesses and degenerative joint disease.
As per the court orders, she is being moved for critical care to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital and Conservation & Care Centre in Mathura -- the first of its kind in India.
The new year brings new hope for Lakshmi to get a second chance at life, in the safe and nurturing environment of Wildlife SOS' Elephant Hospital.
The crippled elephant aged around 25 to 30 years old has been allegedly used for street begging and subjected to starvation, abuse and neglect by her owners. The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department took action and seized the elephant on the complaint of an animal lover, S. Jain.
Being termed "India's skinniest elephant" is by no means an exaggeration since Lakshmi is suffering from critical ailments apart from her visibly emaciated body.
Conspicuous bony projections indicating prolonged starvation, abnormal spinal protrusions, bent knees and abnormally deviated limbs are a shocking sight that are unbecoming of an elephant.
These morphological features indicate the extensive abuse and severe neglect and malnutrition she has been subjected to for decades.
The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh seized Lakshmi from her owners seeing her deteriorating health and critical condition and are in the process of initiating legal action against the owners.
Following court orders that granted rehabilitation of Lakshmi to the Wildlife SOS Elephant Hospital and Conservation & Care Centre in Mathura, a specialised Elephant Ambulance with a team of Veterinarians, elephant care staff from Wildlife SOS travelled to Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh to start her medical treatment and build a bond of friendship & trust with Lakshmi to help facilitate her healing journey.
The veterinary team has also brought medical equipment for providing immediate relief to the pachyderm during the journey.
Upon reaching the Elephant Hospital and Care Center, Lakshmi will receive specialised medical procedures like Laser Therapy, Digital Wireless Radiology & Thermal Imaging at the hands of experts at India's first and only Elephant Hospital Campus established by Wildlife SOS in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department.
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO & Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said: "Its quite shocking to see a severely crippled and emaciated elephant like Lakshmi. She is certainly one of the worst cases we have witnessed. Our veterinary doctors are currently providing on-site treatment to Lakshmi and also on the journey to the Elephant Hospital. We are grateful to the Court for being sympathetic to Lakshmi's deteriorating health condition and thank the Chief Wildlife Wardens of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for issuing necessary permissions to move this elephant for her medical care and welfare."
Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder & Secretary of Wildlife SOS said: "Lakshmi's plight reflects the physical and psychological trauma of several such elephants used for begging and earning on the roads."
Dr. S Ilayaraja, Deputy Director - Veterinary Services, Wildlife SOS, said: "The elephant's abnormal posture and handicap requires long term medical treatment with monitoring. Presence of painful abscesses on hips and wounds on her ears have been caused by 'ankush' (bull hook) and indicate cruelty and severe abuse."
Source: IANS
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