Expert panel examines ailing elephant

Senior veterinarians today examined an ailing temple elephant as directed by the Madras High Court.

The court in a recent order had directed a veterinarian to administer euthanasia to the jumbo if he finds that it would be cruel to keep the animal alive.

Professor Jaya Thangaraj of TANUVAS of Chennai, Vijayakumar and Kumareshan of Veterinary College in Namakkal examined the elephant Rajeshwari belonging to the Suganeshwar temple near here.

An animal lover had moved the court seeking to euthanise the elephant which has developed bed sores due to constant lying down for over a month due to serious complications in of one of its feet.

Coimbatore District Forest Veterinarian Manoharan also carried out a test on the elephant, forest department sources said.

The experts will submit their report to the Animal Husbandry Department here.

A large number of devotees are visiting the elephant and praying for its health.