Caretakers tend to Maya, a sick elephant calf from Abhayaranyam in Kodanad, inside a special container before being airlifted to Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, for specialised treatment, in Kochi on Nov 6 Kochi: Maya, an 18-month-old female elephant calf, which faced euthanasia, was airlifted from Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial) to Vantara in Gujarat on Friday to undergo treatment for osteopenia, a severe bone disease leading to multiple fractures in its legs.
Maya, a sick elephant calf from Abhayaranyam in Kodanad, was airlifted to Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, for specialised treatment, in Kochi on Nov 6
The calf was airlifted on Vantara’s chartered flight in the afternoon and landed at Jamnagar around 4pm. It was transported in a specially designed structure to avoid stress.The calf was undergoing treatment at Abhayaranyam, Kaprikkad in Ernakulam, after being rescued from the wild in April last year. It faced possible euthanasia after a medical board found severe skeletal abnormalities, multiple fractures in both forelimbs and a progressive deterioration in its health.The calf was rescued on April 19, 2025, after being abandoned near a pump house following a herd’s movement across a river from Malayattoor forest. The newborn was weak, dehydrated and unable to stand. It was subsequently shifted to Abhayaranyam and hand-reared under veterinary supervision.Its health complications intensified after it fell while playing in the mud on July 2 this year, injuring its right foreleg and shoulder. Subsequent examinations revealed worsening fractures and other complications, including lower respiratory involvement and pressure-related skin injuries.In an inspection report on Oct 29, the medical board recommended euthanasia at the earliest, citing poor survival prospects, the risk of repeated fractures and the likelihood of prolonged pain and suffering. It warned that even intensive treatment could involve prolonged recovery, repeated fractures and no assurance of a satisfactory quality of life considering its congenital condition. Blood investigations also showed low calcium and phosphorus levels and elevated alkaline phosphatase, indicating serious skeletal health problems.The recommendation was forwarded to the state forest department, seeking further orders. Forest officials and veterinarians sought opinions from experts in the country and looked for options to provide intensive care to the calf. “The experts suggested treatment at Vantara, which has advanced facilities, including an intensive care facility for the wildlife, and the department decided to send the calf there. Vantara offered free treatment and offered to return the calf in six months, if it survives. The department reached an agreement with them in this regard and issued an order immediately. A delay in treatment would worsen the calf’s condition,” said a veterinarian, who was part of the board.The state authorities had sought the opinion of Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, noted elephant specialist from Assam. He indicated the possibility of underlying parathyroid-related issues (abnormal levels of parathyroid hormone and subsequent imbalances in blood calcium and phosphorus levels) which could be amenable to treatment to some extent.This is the first reported case in captive wildlife in the state. “We don’t know of wild animals dying due to this in the forest. This is a rare case and the first that has come to our notice in captive wild animals. We need to study this,” he said.A forest staff member in Kaprikkad said the elephant herd might have abandoned the calf, realising it to be unhealthy and unable to survive in the wild. “The herd hadn’t returned for the calf,” he said.