Elephants in India Reportedly Get their First Hydro Massage Clinic

Jun 27, 2019 4:00 PM

In order to give the jumbos some relief from foot ailments, joint pain, and arthritis (yes, they too suffer from these), India opened her very first, fancy Hydro massage therapy clinic meant solely for the adorable biggies. A big water therapy pool that is set up to give them high-pressure water traction, sounds amazing. Keep reading to know more.

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Elephants Get their Very Own Hydro Massage Therapy Clinic in India

The Elephant Conservation and Care Center (ECCC) presently has 20 rescued elephants. The conservation society is run in collaboration with the forest department of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and NGO Wildlife SOS. And now, near the Wildlife SOS’ Conservation and Care Centre, India’s first specialized Hydrotherapy treatment clinic is opened for the largest land animals, Indian media outlet The Hindu reports.

The Hydro massage therapy jumbo pool is made in every way suitable for the elephants. According to the report, the pool is 11-foot-deep. What actually will give the elephants their due treatment is the 21 high-pressure water jets or sprays fitted inside that will use high water-pressure to massage the jumbos in their feet and body, thereby initiating blood circulation. The pool is situated near the bank of river Yamuna in Mathura.

According to media outlet The Better India, so far 6 elephants have been admitted to the clinic for mental and physical wellness.

Rescued and Rehabilitated

Senior wildlife veterinary officer- Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar said the hospital, starting in 2018, already had state-of-art modern facilities like thermal imaging, ultrasound, laser treatment, and even wireless digital x-ray, all to tend the sick elephants.

Speaking about the rescued elephant (many of which were owned privately and reportedly had a cruel history of being used for begging), Dr. Yaduraj noted a disturbing pattern with each elephant rescue operation: that captive elephants often happened to suffer from malnutrition and carried painful abscesses in their delicate feet. He mentioned foot ailment and osteoarthritis are the common ailments.

Other issues faced by elephants in captivity are rope wounds, edema, fissure from footpads and bedsores, Wildlife Trust of India writes.

The Sinful Past can’t be Changed, but a Blessed Future can be Ensured

Co-founder of Wildlife SOS- Geeta Seshamani told The Hindu, that whereas the past remains unchanged, nonetheless, the team of dedicated vets and trained staff work round the clock around these elephants, tending and caring for them. Through such specialized treatment, said Seshamani, they hope to be “able to identify and develop a model for management of Asian elephants in captivity across the world.”

India is the home to the largest population of the Asiatic elephants, of which now merely 26000 are reportedly left. Numerous issues continue to bother a peaceful coexistence with their gentle beasts in India. Elephants in captivity are relentlessly tortured at the edge of spears or bullhook. They are stationed on hard floors and their feet chained with spiked hobbles.

Elephants are highly social and wise animals. Their children are very dear to them and at the face of adversity, they even work in unison. Goes without saying, the treatment that they get from humankind is underserved by the farthest limits.

Just recently, the World Heritage site in Cambodia, the Angkor Wat temple has pledged to stop giving tourists elephant rides from 2020. Read “WORLD HERITAGE CAMBODIAN TEMPLE ANGKOR WAT TO STOP ELEPHANT RIDES FROM 2020.”

What do you think about the hydro massage center for the elephants? Let me know your thought in a comment.