A giant operation
TUCKED away in the forests of Thailand is an incredible veterinary hospital where all of the patients are elephants, the largest of its kind in the world.
This series follows the work of the conservationists, vets and nurses who run this facility, and dedicate their time to looking after these gentle giants, giving them the quality of life they deserve.
Filmed over four months, the show reveals exactly what it takes to keep elephants healthy, and the considerable risks involved in delivering the best care to these powerful animals.
Firstly, we meet Boon, a bull brought into A&E looking very unwell. Suffering from an upset tummy, he’s not interested in any of his food, ignoring even the yummiest bananas and sweetest grass.
He might be feeling down in the dumps, but conservationist Dr Paul O’donoghue is confident that the team can help him feel better. However, it’s a smelly job when the vet diagnoses a laxative…
It’s also amazing to see the more advanced medicine the elephants are treated with, as the vets look after a 37-year old female recovering from a rare bladder cancer.
Tonight, the team carries out an endoscopy to ensure that her chemotherapy has worked.
Unfortunately, it’s a process that requires her to fast overnight, meaning the team must sedate a grumpy, hungry elephant before carrying out a complicated procedure.
Elsewhere, conservationist Kat explains a condition called musth, which leaves male elephants behaving more aggressively and poses a huge challenge to the people and animals in their path.