Trunks and disorders
ELEPHANT HOSPITAL Channel 5, 9pm
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 there who dedicate their time to looking after these gentle giants, giving them the quality of life they deserve. Filmed over four months and presented by conservationist Paul O’Donoghue, the show reveals what it takes to keep elephants healthy, and the considerable risks involved in giving these powerful animals the best care.
First we meet Boon, a bull elephant brought into A&E looking very unwell. With an upset tummy, he’s not interested in his food, ignoring even the yummiest bananas and sweetest grass. He might be feeling down in the dumps, but Paul is confident 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 tend to 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 that sends male elephants’ testosterone soaring, making them more aggresive and posing a huge challenge to those in their path.