On Oct. 10, 2026, a convoy of trucks carried 12 captive elephants from Thrissur to the grounds of Vadakkunnathan Temple, where a temporary veterinary camp was set up.
Kerala has seen a worrying uptick in the deaths of captive elephants, prompting calls for stricter health oversight.
Veterinary specialists collected blood, urine and dung samples, and will test for blood counts, glucose, liver and kidney functions, and bacterial infections.
Dr. T. S. Rajeev, director of Elephant Studies, said the data will feed into individual health cards that owners can access. Senior vets Dr. Shyam Venugopal and Dr. Usharani also joined the team.
The Kerala Elephant Owners Federation plans to replicate the camp in Kottayam and Kollam later this month, and the university will publish a comprehensive health report by early December.
The health of these elephants is crucial for the state’s annual temple festivals, where they play a central role in rituals.