18-month-old elephant calf Maya airlifted from Kerala to Anant Ambani’s Vantara for intensive care
Maya, an 18-month-old elephant calf from Kerala, has been airlifted to receive specialized medical attention. She suffered a fall in July that left her with multiple fractures and unable to stand. Despite extensive treatment, her health declined u...
By ET Special | Updated:
ET Special
An 18-month-old elephant calf from Kerala’s Abhayaranyam, who has been unable to stand since suffering a fall in July, is being airlifted from Kochi to Anant Ambani’s Vantara in Jamnagar for specialised intensive care.
Named Maya, the calf sustained multiple fractures and developed extremely brittle bones after she slipped while playing on July 2. Despite treatment, physiotherapy, splints and calcium and vitamin D supplements, her condition deteriorated. By late October, she was unable to stand and was surviving on liquid feed.
An examination conducted on October 24 found a fractured left humerus, multiple fractures in the right radius, generalised bone thinning, a chest infection and pressure sores caused by prolonged recumbency. The Medical Board had subsequently raised concerns about a possible congenital defect and recommended euthanasia, citing Maya’s grave prognosis.
Following a wider consultation with Vantara’s veterinary team and elephant veterinarian Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, a possible parathyroid-related disorder was identified as a condition that could respond to treatment. The decision was then taken to give Maya access to Vantara’s intensive care facilities before considering any irreversible course of action. This crucial transfer was set into motion when Kerala officials explicitly requested Vantara's intervention to exhaust all medical possibilities. In stepping in to provide this advanced care, Vantara acted on the core principle of Anant Ambani: every life matters, driven by the philosophy of Jeev Seva.
