Elephant Bull Fishan Suffers Colic While Out in the Bush

Our team noticed Fishan acting out of character in the bush recently, while the herd were out walking and foraging. The big bull had found a quiet corner to lie down in. When Fishan is tired in the bush he will usually have a rest while standing, perhaps leaning against a tree. But here he was lying down. We could see he was in some discomfort and pain and considered what to do next. We provided him with painkillers and asked him if he wanted to go back to the homestead to rest. We also took dung samples and consulted with our vets. We were able to determine colic as the likely cause, which can create stomach pain and gas can be due to eating too much of one plant. Fortunately, the colic passed and Fishan was able to join his herd again. Fishan does struggle in the wintertime as the cold weather makes his joints a little achier and stiffer, following his leg fracture in 2018. The very best care is provided to Fishan daily and we treat him to anti-inflammatory medication during the colder periods to help him, while monitoring him closely. If he needs to walk slower or not as far, our carers (and Tokwe) are there to assist him. You can find out more about Fishan’s injury and rehabilitation journey here: https://herd.org.za/blog/five-years-o...