Thrissur: The stress and lack of exercise during the lockdown period have been taking a toll on the health of the elephants.
These have been pointed out as the main causes for the death of most of the elephants in the state. As per the official documents, among the 74 elephants that were dead in the last 37 months, around 25 elephants suffered from lifestyle diseases. This is one of the causes for the death of many older elephants too.
Meanwhile, lung and heart ailments have been cited as the main reasons for the death of younger elephants. Their lungs get stressed due to infections and leading to the death of the mammal.
Researchers and animal experts say that an elephant should walk at least 10 kilometers a day. Elephants too experience the same mental and physical stress as experienced by human beings when they get isolated or stranded in a place.