Famed Amputee Elephant Gets New Prosthesis Pads

Motala is likely the world's largest landmine survivor and the first elephant to receive a prosthetic leg. She received new padding for the prosthesis to mark the anniversary of her operation seven years ago.

"The prosthesis padding needs to be replaced by a new one because it has gotten too hard and is causing some pain when Motala walks," said Soraida Salwala, secretary general of the Asian Elephant Foundation, which is funding the operation, according to Asia Pacific News August 28.

Motala, who lost her left forefoot to a landmine in neighboring Myanmar (formerly Burma), made medical history in 1999 when Thai veterinarians fitted her with the world's first pachyderm prosthesis.

The operation was conducted at the Elephant Hospital in Lamphang province and attracted international attention to the efforts of the Lamphang Elephant Hospital, which is funding the operation. Motala's wound healed, and she learned to walk on the prosthesis; the cost was estimated at 1 million baht ($USD26, 230) over the past seven years, according to Salwala.

Although Motala is the only elephant with a prosthesis, the Elephant Hospital has treated more than 2,300 elephants for various illnesses and injuries, with 348 elephants being treated this year, Salwala said, as quoted in the Asia Pacific News article.

The Elephant Hospital is largely dependent on funding from the Asian Elephant Foundation, which itself depends on donations from Thai and international animal-protection activists, such as Brigitte Bardot, who has provided 210,000 euros (USD$267,000) over the past three years, Salwala said. "Even with these donations, we are still operating at a six-million-baht deficit this year, "she added.

Thailand is the only country where elephants, a protected species under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species, are classified as a draft animal by law. Domesticated elephants have long been used in various important capacities in Thailand, such as in battle in former times and later, for hauling logs out of tropical forests.

Mobile Elephant Clinic

A project of the Asian Elephant Foundation is the Mobile Elephant Clinic, since, as the foundation notes, it is easier to take a clinic to a sick or injured elephant than to try to move the jumbo animal to a clinic. There were at least 100,000 elephants in Thailand about 100 years about, according to the foundation, but now that number has dropped to about 5,000 (about 2,000 in the wild and 3,000 in captivity).

A major problem is loss of natural habitat, the foundation notes on its web page. Fifty years ago, 60 percent of the country was covered by forest; but now, largely due to illegal logging and encroachment, that figure has fallen to below 20 percent and is still dropping. Elephants are slow and difficult to breed, having only about four offspring in a lifetime. "Elephants often die needlessly due to accidents, injuries, illnesses, and conflicts with man when they are shot dead instead of tranquilized," the foundation said. "Well over 100 elephants will die this year in Thailand. Few people are aware of how serious the situation is."

The foundation welcomes donations, which can be sent to the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand, Account number 209-020-1951, Bangkok Bank, Chatujack Branch, Bangkok, Thailand.

Also needed are additional experienced volunteer surgeons, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, off-road and camping equipment, medical equipment and drugs, photographic and computer equipment, and any help with accommodation and meals while traveling around Thailand.

Promotion of the project is sponsored by Siam Safari Nature Tours Ltd in Phuket, Thailand.

For more information, contact Robert at ecearth@samart,co.th or visit www.phuket.com/conservation/elephants.htm

--Miki Fairley

Famed Amputee Elephant Gets New Prosthesis Pads

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Freedom Innovations Names Midwestern Sales Manager

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