Ramu
Year of arrival: 2019
Age at the time of arrival: 19 years old
Sex: Male
Recognisable features: Long tusks that cross at the end; visibly deformed left ankle due to unhealed fracture
Health condition when rescued: Severely underweight with distinctly protruding spine; fracture in the left hindleg; stereotypy behaviour
Facility: Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC)
Favourite food: Roasted Bengal gram (sattu) flour balls
Favourite activities: Eating green fodder from his haynet enrichment
Background: Ramu was weak and in pain when he arrived at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care Centre for long-term care and treatment. Here, the tusker has shown mighty progress in his physical condition. | READ MORE ABOUT RAMU
ramu’S STORY
Jharkhand Forest Department reached out to Wildlife SOS regarding an ailing 19-year-old elephant in Ranchi named Ramu. Preliminary examination revealed that Ramu was suffering from severe osteoarthritis, which led to painful inflammation in his limbs. An elephant care team from Wildlife SOS reached Ranchi with medical equipment to provide immediate relief to the young pachyderm. They also managed to build a bond of trust with Ramu so that they could facilitate the elephant’s medical care.
After conducting an assessment to check if he was fit to be transported to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, a specialised Elephant Ambulance was dispatched by Wildlife SOS to carry Ramu for 1100 km to reach Mathura. On his way, the bull elephant was accompanied by a team of expert veterinarians and caregivers.
Ramu responded well to the treatments he received at the facility. Laser therapy for his arthritic limbs provided him relief at a cellular level. Ramu has a permanently deformed ankle because of a fracture he sustained, but oral anti-inflammatories and pain medication alleviate his pain. Ramu is often spotted walking briskly around his enclosure, which means he is healing well! However, he is extremely picky when it comes to food, and when he refuses the lot of fruit he is offered, his caregivers quickly arrange for roasted Bengal gram (sattu) flour that he never denies!