Sukhachikitsa for Guruvayur elephants to begin Wednesday

Thrissur: The annual Sukhachikitsa (rejuvenation therapy) for elephants belonging to Guruvayur Devaswom will begin on Wednesday.The devaswom maintains 35 elephants in its aanakotta (elephant yard).

The devaswom veterinarian Dr Charujith Narayanan said the treatment will be given to all the 35 elephants including those in musth.

The treatment would be suspended to the elephants in musth if they are not willing. Their treatment will resume once they are out of musth, he said.Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee has allocated Rs 9 lakh for the month-long treatment. Daily supply of a special feed is the most important component of the rejuvenation therapy of elephants. The meal will comprise items like rice, special tonic, mung bean, horse gram, ashtachoornam, chyavanaprasam and mineral mixture, devaswom sources said.Vital health parameters of the elephants will be monitored before, after and during the therapy. They will also be subjected to de-worming before the start of the treatment.