International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc.

[IAIJ]

A New Device To Detect Musth In Elephants


By M Achuth Menon


A Tirupati based scientist Dr C Jairaj has developed non invasive diagnostic equipment to predict musth in elephants without physical examination. As at present the musth in the elephants is being diagnosed by monitoring the behavior symptoms of elephants. This new equipment has a video camera and a computer monitor with which the musth symptoms in elephants can be detected early by monitoring the musth glands in the tuskers by absorbing the heat emitting from the elephants body. Dr Jairaj said the initial trial conducted in elephants including those at PunnathurKota in Guruvayur have been successful. The musth elephants became aggressive and equally active with testosterone levels rising by 60 times, more than during normal period. This is a periodic condition of male elephants during which the tuskers ooze out a thick fluid from their temporal ducts on either sides of the head. The electronic device will be handy to mahouts and caretakers to provide rest to the elephants during the beginning of musth thereby avoiding the deadly interfaces between human beings and elephants, which results in loss of innocent lives during the time of festivals DR Jairaj added.