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Elephants.

(16 Posts)
Tegan Wed 14-Aug-13 11:18:45

Another one that won't work; his name was Boitron.

Tegan Wed 14-Aug-13 11:18:18

articles.latimes.com/1985-03-24/sports/sp-30316_1_leg

Tegan Wed 14-Aug-13 11:16:14

Going back to the little elephant, I found out yesterday that they have made prosthetic legs for horses; one horse [obviously]had to be retired from racing; 'THREE LEGGED HORSE WINS RACE' confused..but went on to become a successful stallion and a little pony called Molly has had a prosthetic leg for years she was a victim of Hurricane Catrina]. She tells them when she's had it on for long enough and they take it off so she just walks around on three legs, but they do say it's her small size that helps. I'm amazed about the horse, though.

Ella46 Sat 10-Aug-13 10:42:54

Yes, and when all those orphans are released into the wild, how many more babies are going to suffer warped treatment from misguided adult elephants who don't know any better.

Tegan Sat 10-Aug-13 10:29:27

We're going to be worrying about him now, aren't we sad?

Ella46 Sat 10-Aug-13 10:26:28

X posts! smile

Ella46 Sat 10-Aug-13 10:25:50

I can't help but feel he would have been better learning how to walk on three legs than dragging that heavy looking false one.

Tegan Sat 10-Aug-13 10:21:55

I think they said he had no chance of ever leaving captivity. I did wonder if he might be able to carry the weight of his body on three legs as he gets older and stronger, and the prosthesis was just for when he was young, but he's going to grow so large it seems impossible. I hope we get updates on him. Poor little chap sad.

Nonu Sat 10-Aug-13 10:16:41

What a charming programme , but I lurrve Elephants any way , I do agree about the baby , what will his chances be, out in the wild.
I mean the leg fell off once and had to be re-fixed , well what are his chances out in the wild ?

Anyway lovely programme to start the weekend .

sunshine

Tegan Sat 10-Aug-13 10:16:20

I couldn't work out for ages why they didn't look like elephants until it showed the two males. I didn't find them as appealing as African elephants. There was a programme a while back about elephants that live in deserts; I find elephants endlessly fascinating. I'm not one for having photographs on walls but I've often wanted to get a copy of the one of Echo to put on the wall.

Ella46 Sat 10-Aug-13 10:00:48

It was a very interesting programme, and didn't they look strange without tusks? I didn't notice at first.
I didn't like to see that poor little one with a damaged leg, I agree it will probably cause a few problems and I think I agree that it should have been put down, but they are so lovable.

Tegan Sat 10-Aug-13 09:30:32

Heartbreaking. Is it cruel of me to say I felt the baby elephant should have been put down when it lost it's leg? I can't see what future it has and when it's an adult and comes into must it will be dangerous.; I spoke to an elephant keeper at a zoo once who told me how dangerous they are at that time. Having watched the Echo saga over many years, I was amazed at how different they were to African Elephants. I was also concerned at how the orphan elephants would behave after being freed; a sheep farmer once told me how difficult orphaned lambs are when they grow up and go back to the flock, as they don't behave like flock animals. I think hand reared horses can be difficult as well, as their mothers not only feed them but teach them manners. [sorry; I'm being a bit negative, aren't I? Must point out that my heart went out to the injured baby and I just wanted to go and cuddle it sad].

Hunt Fri 09-Aug-13 23:20:39

lovely programme about the Sri Lankan elephants. Oh, the baby with the false leg! And the two females flapping their ears in unison-amazing. I shall probably watch it again.

Nonu Fri 09-Aug-13 18:18:03

I DID < very , very sad .

Tegan Fri 09-Aug-13 18:07:18

Oh a million thank you's!!! I'd forgotten it was on. I think it might be the guy that filmed Echo all those years ago. I keep missing programmes that I want to see [I LOVE elephants]. Did you follow the Echo saga, Nonu? Boy did I cry when she died sad.

Nonu Fri 09-Aug-13 18:05:00

Do not know if this is of interest , there is a programme on BBC2 at 9pm about elephants in Sri Lanka . I will be viewing .