When Dr Vaisakh Viswom, a Thrissur-based veterinarian, was asked to help a Kerala man who sought assistance from Reliance Foundation’s Vantara, a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Gujarat, he initially thought it was just another medical case. But soon, the young veterinarian was entrusted with leading Vantara’s first-ever outreach mission in Kerala — treating Puthuppally Sadhu, a 55-year-old captive elephant from Kottayam suffering from a severe intestinal condition. Sadhu, a celebrated presence in temple festivals and films, carries a massive fanbase in Kerala.

Sadhu had gone 17 days without food when his owner, Pothen Varghese, reported the situation to the Chief Wildlife Warden on August 4, requesting Vantara's help. Initial treatments, with the help of local veterinarians and forest officials, showed no results. With no improvement, Varghese sought Vantara’s expert intervention.

Responding quickly, the Kerala Forest Department formally requested support, and Vantara’s veterinarians first assessed Sadhu through a video call on August 7 and began monitoring his condition. By August 14, Varghese once again expressed concern as no improvement was reported. The very next day, a Rapid Response Team equipped with advanced medical kits was dispatched. Dr Vaisakh, a veterinary consultant at Vantara, was chosen to lead the mission, assisted by vets Amar Gharat and Prithesh Tayade, along with media coordinator Samagra Bharadwaj.

“We began treatment on August 16. The elephant was extremely weak from not eating or drinking properly. Our first task was to stabilise him and restore intestinal movement,” recalls Vaisakh. The team administered around 80 litres of IV fluids daily, along with rectal rehydration, liquid paraffin, and pain relief. They also performed Ayurvedic castor oil massages to ease bowel movement.

The turning point came when a colonoscopy done on August 18 revealed an impacted mass about five feet from the anal opening. “The test confirmed that the issue was related to peristalsis (contraction of muscles in the digestive tract, which enables food movement). This condition is one of the leading causes of elephant deaths, often triggered by overeating, poor chewing of fibrous food like sugarcane or palm leaves, or inadequate water intake,” explains Vaisakh.

Varghese believes Sadhu’s illness may have been caused by an Anayoottu (feeding ritual), where the elephant may have ingested sugarcane pieces without properly chewing them.

Over the following days, the team continued supportive therapy. A second colonoscopy on August 21 showed the mass had shifted closer. Finally, on August 25, the veterinarians manually removed a 32-kg intestinal blockage. That same day, Sadhu passed dung on his own during the morning walk and soon regained appetite, water intake, and energy.

“Throughout the treatment, the elephant remained remarkably calm and cooperative,” says Vaisakh. The team advised a 15-day recovery diet and strict monitoring of food intake, especially during festival duties and long journeys.

Varghese, who owns three more elephants, expressed relief and gratitude: “Our local vets know the condition well, but they lack the equipment. Vantara’s expertise and tools made all the difference.” The entire treatment cost was under ₹1 lakh, covered by the owner, while Vantara bore the travel and equipment expenses.