With December here and temperatures dropping, winter has truly arrived. On cold days, there's nothing better than a relaxing soak in a warm bath. When you think of animals that enjoy soaking in hot water, you might picture monkeys or Capybara, but African Bush Elephant at Tama Zoo also sometimes enjoy this activity.

Chiki, African Bush Elephant at Tama Zoo (estimated 38 years old, female), is taking a foot bath not to warm her whole body, but to treat her foot. Chiki has a hole in the claw of her right front foot, through which bacteria have entered and spread the infection, causing an abscess. She is receiving daily treatment including cleaning, disinfection, and hoof trimming, but the abscess is progressing from bottom to top and inward, and is not getting better. To supplement the treatment, her right front foot is being warmed to promote blood circulation and increase metabolism, encouraging the expulsion of the damaged tissue.



When we started giving Chiki a foot bath, we first had to get her used to the tub in which her feet would be placed. Perhaps because it was unfamiliar to her, Chiki was wary of the tub, staring at it intently and cautiously reaching out her nose to touch it. So, to ease her apprehension, we put some food in the tub so that she would understand that it was nothing to be afraid of.



Once Chiki started putting her nose into the basin without resistance, we filled it with water and used it to wash her feet with a brush, so that she would understand that the basin was for washing her feet and not for feeding. Then we practiced putting her feet in. The staff member looked for a position that was easy for Chiki to put her feet in, and Chiki also looked for a position that was comfortable for her.

Once the basin was in place, we finally poured in the hot water, which was approximately 43°C. Chiki didn't show much displeasure and quickly adapted. It seemed that Chiki liked it, and eagerly tried to get her feet in the footbath.

While her feet are in the water, we give her her favorite bananas and bread to keep her motivated. After about seven minutes, her feet seem to warm up and she starts to get sleepy, as her head occasionally droops. Even when we give the signal to stop, Chiki often refuses to lift her feet out of the basin and tries to continue the footbath.

Currently, we're aiming for 15 minutes of foot baths, and we're gradually increasing the time until we can do it for 10 minutes. Please cheer us on so that Chiki's feet get better.

[Tama Zoo Animal Care and Exhibition Division, Eiji Takeyama]

(December 26, 2014)