Union Minister of State Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh recently posted a video on his social media account regarding ‘Shankar,’ the lone African elephant at the zoo. He mentioned, “After my visit to the zoo on October 9 and my meeting with Shankar, we coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Environment, Team Vantara from Jamnagar, and expert veterinary doctors. I am pleased to announce that Shankar is now free from chains. This achievement is thanks to the dedicated work of the team, including Neeraj, Yaduraj, Dr. Adrian from South Africa, and Michael from the Philippines, as we follow our rehabilitation action plan.”
Shri Singh’s initiatives to enhance Shankar’s physical health are yielding positive results. Under his guidance, the team has been monitoring Shankar’s behavior continuously, with veterinary doctors and trained mahouts working to soothe him.
On October 11, the team successfully removed Shankar’s chains without administering any medication. Experts will keep a close watch on his behavior for the next two to three days, and the current mahouts will receive training to ensure effective interaction with him.
A personalized diet plan and a comprehensive schedule of activities will be created to keep Shankar engaged, based on a thorough assessment of his behavior and routine. Shri Singh also held a video conference with mahout Michael from the Philippines to discuss Shankar’s progress. On Friday, it was noted that Shankar appeared significantly more relaxed than before.