Thrissur: The annual month-long wellness therapy for elephants owned by the Guruvayur Devaswom began on Tuesday at the Punnathur Anakkotta elephant sanctuary, with Revenue (Devaswom) Secretary M.G. Rajamanickam inaugurating the programme.
The inauguration was marked by offering a medicated rice ball to the Devaswom tusker Junior Vishnu as part of the traditional Aanayoottu (elephant feeding ceremony). Rajamanickam later fed medicated rice balls to other elephants, including Vinayakan and Gopikrishnan.
Addressing the gathering, Rajamanickam said the Guruvayur Devaswom’s annual wellness programme for captive elephants has become a model for elephant care and management.
The one-month treatment programme, which will continue until July 30, is being conducted under the supervision of a panel of veterinary and traditional elephant-care experts. The therapy includes a special diet, herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, adequate rest and regular health monitoring to improve the elephants’ overall fitness ahead of the festival season.
The Guruvayur Devaswom currently owns 35 elephants housed at Punnathur Anakkotta. Seventeen elephants participated in the inaugural ceremony, while those in musth and those engaged in daily Seeveli duties at the temple were exempted from the event.
Guruvayur Devaswom Chairman A.V. Gopinath presided over the function. Members of the Devaswom Managing Committee, the expert veterinary panel, temple officials, devotees and Devaswom employees were also present.
