World Elephant Day - Understanding the Foot Problems Among Captive Elephants and Their Care

Every year, on April 16th, the world celebrates Elephant Day, an important day to raise awareness about the dangers faced by Asian elephants. In India alone, more than 2,600 elephants are in captivity. It serves as a poignant reminder of why "Elephant Day" is still needed.

Among the greatest challenges faced by captive elephants is the extremely poor condition of their feet. Elephants used for begging on the streets, in weddings and tourism industries, and circuses not only endure life with severe body wounds but also suffer from conditions like abscesses and osteoarthritis (arthritis). Their footpads are often worn down, some have extremely thin soles, and their nails are excessively overgrown.

The primary foot-related ailments among captive elephants include abscesses, cracks, overgrown nails, and split footpads. Injuries like cuts, bruises, or foreign objects such as thorns, glass pieces, etc., can lead to bacterial or fungal infections in the feet, causing further discomfort. These foot conditions significantly impact their mobility in their daily lives.

Dr. Eliaraja, Deputy Director of Wildlife SOS's veterinary services, states, "We inspect the feet of elephants to assess the depth of infection or injury. We regularly clean their feet where we remove debris, trim nails, and remove other hazardous materials embedded in their footpads. Emma, a 40-year-old female elephant, had sharp stones, pebbles, metal fragments, and glass pieces embedded in her footpads when rescued. In such severe cases, we make special shoes with medications for the elephants to aid them in walking."

Kartik Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, says, "In the wild, elephants walk for about 18-20 hours a day, which naturally wears down their nails. In our rehabilitation efforts, we encourage elephants to walk on soft soil in a natural environment, promoting their natural behavior."

Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder and Secretary of Wildlife SOS, explains, "Our team pays special attention to the large, thick, and soft footpads of these elephants, which evenly distribute pressure on each foot for walking on natural surfaces. However, in captivity, they are forced to traverse unnatural surfaces that harm their feet. Elephant Day is appropriate for highlighting this issue and demonstrating what can be done to assist them."