Bijlee's days may be numbered, says vet

Although 58-year-old Bijlee the elephant is getting the best medical treatment and tremendous support from animal lovers, her condition is rapidly deteriorating.

Bijlee had collapsed, for the second time in a week, near Fortis hospital in Mulund on June 13. Since then, she has been under treatment for fatigue, a severe maggot-infested injury and bruises in her hind legs.

A makeshift shelter has been built for Bijlee, who can only stand with help of a crane.

Speaking to dna, Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar, senior vet, Wildlife SOS, who is treating Bijlee, said her condition has been deteriorating for the past two days.

“She was disoriented. She is not able to stand for long. Every 15 minutes she has to sit,” he said.

Bijlee is suffering from a degenerative joint disease that is a culmination of multiple factors. The doctor explained that old age, an unhealthy diet, obesity and walking on tar roads are some of the causes for Bijlee’s ailments.

“All these issues are connected — it’s a vicious cycle,” he said. She is in a lot of pain and we have given her painkillers but the chances of her improving is slim as she is overweight,” Dr Khadpekar added.

Dr Prathamesh Deshmukh, an acupuncture specialist, attended to Bijlee, on Friday. Dr Khadpekar, who is from Agra, was brought in nine days ago to treat the ailing elephant.

After Bijlee’s plight was highlighted and got sharp reactions from concerned citizens, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) instructed the chief conservator of forests (territorial), Thane, to form a wildlife veterinarian team to assess the health of privately owned elephants in Mumbai.

Shakuntala Majumdar, president of Thane’s Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said: “Since the animals come under the Schedule I species, why can’t the government take action by forming a team of doctors to treat these elephants?”

Majumdar is a part of the team of investigators who will submit a report on four privately-owned elephants in the city.

Another 18-year-old elephant Laxmi from Mulund, who has similar health issues as Bijlee, is also being treated.

“She’s double the weight she should be. There are problems with her bones and her front leg is crooked,” doctors said. Experts say that elephants have delicate feet that have to be maintained properly. “You cannot have them walk on tar roads – these infections are responsible for many deaths. If things don’t change, more elephants are going to end up like Bijlee.”