India
Kerala Air‑Lifts 18‑Month‑Old Elephant Calf Maya to Vantara for Advanced Care
By HT News Desk
An 18‑month‑old elephant calf named Maya, rescued on 19 April 2025 after being found abandoned near Kaprikkad in the Malayattoor Division, will be air‑lifted from Abhayaranyam to Vantara in Jamnagar for specialised medical treatment. Kerala’s Forest Department, following consultations with veterinary experts, ordered the transfer on 5 November after Maya suffered multiple fractures and severe bone weakness. The calf was abandoned at birth, found weak and severely dehydrated after her herd crossed a river without her. Forest staff hand‑reared her, as she had no suckling reflex, under round‑the‑clock supervision. Assistant Forest Veterinary Officer Dr Binoy C Babu and other caregivers monitored her health, treating several complications. Maya’s condition worsened after slipping on 2 July, injuring her right shoulder. Despite treatment, physiotherapy, and calcium and vitamin D supplementation, she developed multiple fractures and lost the ability to stand. An examination on 24 October by a veterinary expert from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, revealed a fractured left humerus, multiple fractures in the right radius, generalised bone thinning, a chest infection and pressure sores. The Medical Board recommended euthanasia due to her grave prognosis and extremely brittle bones. However, during consultations on 4 November, Padma Shri Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, an elephant veterinarian from Assam and Veterinary Advisor to Vantara, identified a possible parathyroid‑related disorder that could respond to treatment. Vantara’s Head Veterinarian Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar supported transferring Maya for intensive care. At Vantara, Maya will receive round‑the‑clock monitoring, pain management and advanced diagnostics. Three Vantara elephant veterinarians, along with paravets and caregivers, will accompany her during the airlift. Her familiar caregiver and Kerala forest veterinarian will also travel with her. A Kerala Monitoring Committee will oversee her progress, and Vantara will facilitate her return to Abhayaranyam after treatment. Her prognosis remains uncertain.