Rejuvenation therapy for elephants at Guruvayur camp begins in Kerala

Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy for the elephants at Guruvayur has begun in Kerala. Of the total 47 elephants at Punnathur Kotta, therapy is being given to 29 elephants at the camp. Rest of the 18 pachyderms are in their musth period.

Thrissur: The 30-day annual Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy for the elephants at Guruvayur Punnathur Aanakkotta (literally translated as elephant fort), has begun. According to reports, the treatment is given to tuskers at an elephant camp belonging to Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple.

In the wake of COVID-19, the therapeutic rejuvenation regimen is being carried out this time strictly without any public visitors in the camp.

Of the total 47 elephants at Punnathur Kotta, the rejuvenation therapy (sukha chikilsa) is being done for 29 elephants at the camp from Wednesday. Rest of the 18 pachyderms are in their musth period. The rejuvenation treatment for these excluded elephants will begin as and when their musth cycle ends.

Starting July 1, the therapy will last for 30 days. The elephant's medicines and food regimen during this therapy period is being prepared by a panel of experts, including veterinary doctors.

Read:Kerala villagers chip in to help stranded Rwandan footballer

For the treatment, boiled raw rice with bran, boiled green gram, Chyavanaprasham (an Ayurvedic medicinal preparation), other Ayurvedic and Allopathic medicines are all combined well. Balls of this mixture are given to the pachyderms through the therapy period.

The therapy is being done complying with all COVID-19 regulations and precautions.

Marking the beginning of the rejuvenation therapy at Punnathur elephant camp, Guruvayur MLA K V Abdul Khader offered the ball of medicines mixed with rice and pulses to the elephant named Vinayakan here. Municipal Chairman M Rathi and a few other officials were also present during the event.