How many steps are there to trim an elephant's feet?

Last time we wrote about trimming the hooves of a giraffe (starting “manicure” from infancy), this time we want to talk about caring for the elephant’s feet. This time we can’t say we are trimming the “hooves”, it’s more accurate to say we are trimming the “feet”.

Because the elephant's foot structure includes carpal bones, metacarpal bones, phalanges, etc., but is covered by thick flesh pads and skin, forming a solid "pillar"; this layer of flesh pads on the bottom of the foot is composed of fat and elastic fibers, which can help disperse the elephant's weight.

Why do elephants also need pedicures?

Elephants are the largest terrestrial mammals on Earth. An adult Asian elephant weighs 3 to 4 tons, and elephants stand 90% of the time. Therefore, the limbs and feet that support the elephant's huge body are particularly important to the elephant.

In fact, the elephant's feet are very similar to ours. The elephant's soles can slowly grow stratum corneum, the toenails are also constantly growing, and dead skin will gradually grow on the soles of the feet.

In the wild, elephants' nails will naturally wear down and maintain an appropriate length as they walk, dig for food and water. But in captivity, where there is a lack of opportunities for natural wear, the rate at which elephants' nails wear down cannot keep up with their growth, causing their nails to grow too long, sometimes bending or even growing inward, causing pain or infection.

Therefore, for elephants, regular foot care is the key to preventing foot problems and maintaining overall health. If the elephants' excess nails and cuticles can be trimmed regularly, it can not only effectively prevent the occurrence of elephant foot diseases, but also improve their quality of life and ensure that they can live a healthy and comfortable life.

Giving an elephant a pedicure is a technical job

Generally speaking, we need to formulate a pedicure plan based on the condition of each individual elephant's feet, and proceed step by step in combination with the growth of the elephant's feet.

We will first rinse off the sand or small stones on the elephants' feet so that we can observe the condition of the elephants' feet clearly, such as whether the elephants' foot pads are damaged, foreign objects or infected, and whether there are foreign objects embedded in their soles.

Next, it’s time to clean. Cleaning is an important step in maintaining the health of the elephant’s feet. We use a soft brush to remove dirt and debris from the pads and between the toes.

From the beginning to the end, the keeper standing in front needs to use reinforcements to guide the elephant to stay in front of the training wall. Every time the elephant cooperates to complete an action, it will be reinforced.

After years of behavioral training, our elephants now cooperate very well with the keepers. Every time we trim the elephants' feet, we need three keepers, one person guides in front, while the other two keepers are responsible for the actual pedicure, and they take turns.

For the toenails, the elephant's nails are polished with a large file;

Then use a single-edged scraper to trim the gaps between the elephant's feet or nails to clean out the dirt inside and avoid hiding dirt;

Finally, use a round scraper to clean the soles of the elephant's feet.

Finally, you need to rinse the elephant's feet. If it is in dry weather, you should also apply Vaseline to relieve the dryness of the elephant's feet. After such care, the elephant's feet will be brand new~

Taking into account the patience of elephants, only one or two feet are treated during each pedicure, and each session lasts about half an hour. Through this cyclical care method, the health of the elephants' feet is effectively maintained, while also further deepening the special bond based on understanding and trust between elephants and keepers.

Implementing a long-term and continuous training program for elephants is an essential step in the daily breeding process. However, training alone is not enough. Building mutual trust between elephants and keepers is the foundation of everything.

Pedicure is only a part of the elephants' daily training. In addition, elephants are also subject to eye examinations, oral examinations, blood draws and other training programs to complete their daily health management.