Jumbo gets pampering treat
Published February 4, 2008 | Kochi, February 4
Massaging is a great way to relieve our stress and get a rejuvenating experience. You might have heard about massage treatments for women or men, but have you ever heard about a massage for animals. Well if no then this news will be an interesting thing to read for many of you animal lovers.
This woman believes that a gentle touch would make a world of difference for animals too, like it does for us humans. ‘Elke Riesterer’ is doing a study on the behavioural changes in Elephants of Kerala and Assam. To undertake her interesting study, the Wildlife Trust of India and one of the Elephant Care based in Kochi is supporting her to perform the massage therapy for the elephant. This researcher has come to Kochi, Kerala to do her research on the elephants.
The massage therapy of the elephant started with the hinds and forelegs of the elephant; afterwards she applied pressure on the upper parts of the body of the animal. She then continued the process of massage on the elephant and also offered the elephant something to eat in between and even shared her lemon juice with the jumbo. To measure the changes before and after the therapy, blood pressure and pulse rate of the elephant was verified. It was surprising to see that the elephant responded in a very positive way to the message therapy, which was evident from the body moments of the animal, the moment of eyelids and shifting of weight to legs, tail moments all indicated that the animals enjoyed this pampering treat.
Elke said, she is also willing to conduct a training programme for the elephant owners and mahouts and even veterinary doctors, so that they can treat and understand the elephant more closely. She said her aim is to make people understand the value of touch which can be useful even for the toughest animal like elephants.
