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Massage therapy for Elephants

Alke Riesterer,  who is a certified massage therapist from US is doing her therapy on elephants which is beneficial to relieve stress and good health.  She came to Kerala as part of her research on elephants.  She had done massage to the elephant Shenoy Chandrashekharan at Kundannor.  Wild Trust of India and Elephant care Association of Kochi assisted her in this program.  She starts her massage from the legs and touches all parts of the elephant body.  During massage the elephant showed signs of relief and positively co-operated with her for this one hour long therapy.  She had plans to conduct training sessions to mahouts, elephant owners and veterinarians to inform them about the benefits of this therapy.

Now she is working with the elephants of Oakland Zoo in America.  She had done this therapy on different types of Animals,  but she has a special interest in Elephants.  According to her a touch gives relaxation and a healing of stress to the animals.  Even the blood sugar and pulse rate,  varies in a positive way after the touch therapy.

In Kerala,  bath of the elephants including scrubbing every part of the body with coconut husks.  This will also give an effect of massage therapy and builds the trust between the mahout and the elephanat.