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Illness and Poor Hygiene
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Pressure wound. |
In the wild, elephants take daily baths and rub against trees, sand,
and rocks to remove dead skin. In captivity, caretakers should wash
elephants daily to maintain healthy skin. Elephants in circuses may
show an excessive accumulation of necrotic skin as a result of poor
husbandry and infrequent baths. Some circuses apply petroleum-based
Vaseline around the elephant’s eyes to prevent a buildup of
tears that hardens when dry and becomes difficult to remove without
ripping the sensitive skin. Bathing elephants daily eliminates the
need for this practice.
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Leiomyoma protruding externally from a
female Asian elephant. |
Temporal glands are located midway between the eye and ear. Slight,
clear secretions are normal. Swelling or a discharge of pus may indicate
a temporal gland disorder and should be examined by a veterinarian.
Pressure wounds are similar to bed sores in humans. They are painful
skin ulcers caused by lying on unnaturally hard surfaces, such as
concrete, asphalt, or hard, compressed dirt. These can become abscessed
and
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Normal temporal secretion. |
require veterinary treatment. Older female Asian elephants in captivity
frequently develop leiomyomas, or fibroid tumors, of the genital tract.
This condition is abnormal. There should be records indicating that
a veterinarian has examined the tumors.
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"Make 'Em Scream": Watch Standard Elephant-Training Practices
Ringling Bros. Exposed
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