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Elephant Getting Prosthetic Leg

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2009 11:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – A 48-year-old Thai elephant who stepped on a landmine 10 years ago got fitted for permanent artificial leg today, the AP reports. Motola, who's become a cause celebré for the plight of elephants worldwide, got measured for the new limb at an elephant hospital in Thailand. Until now she’s been walking on a temporary canvas leg.

"I do hope she will accept the new leg," said an official with an advocacy group. "It would be wonderful to see Motola and Baby Mosha walking together side-by-side." Mosha is a 3-year-old at the same hospital who became the first elephant to get a prosthetic leg 2 years ago. She stepped on a landmine while just 7 months old. Thailand's borders with Cambodia and Burma are rife with the unexploded mines.

Terdchai Cheevakate, right, an artificial leg expert, holds the model of the leg of Motola.
Terdchai Cheevakate, right, an artificial leg expert, holds the model of the leg of Motola.   (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Mosha, a 3-year-old elephant, is helped to walk by its keepers after putting on an artificial leg at the Elephant Hospital in Lampang province, Thailand.
Mosha, a 3-year-old elephant, is helped to walk by its keepers after putting on an artificial leg at the Elephant Hospital in Lampang province, Thailand.   (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Artificial leg experts measure the front left leg of Motala, a female elephant who stepped on a land mine 10 years ago, at its enclosure at the Elephant Hospital in northern Thailand Saturday.
Artificial leg experts measure the front left leg of Motala, a female elephant who stepped on a land mine 10 years ago, at its enclosure at the Elephant Hospital in northern Thailand Saturday.   (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
schmidtkoff
Aug 16, 2009 9:30 AM CDT
i know horses are different, but can't they do a similar prothesis with horses. ie. like 8 belles. i know that elephants are lumbering beautiful giants, and horses are fleet and graceful - but there must be a way to save a horse with a broken leg. i know 8 belles had other problems - i just hate to see them put down.
cognitivefilter
Aug 15, 2009 7:38 AM CDT
LOL doesn't look like those handlers are 'helping' the elephant to walk by pulling her ears!! but i'm proud of anybody who helps these innocent and majestic animals
rocketrocketusa
Aug 15, 2009 7:34 AM CDT
Prosthetic leg, prosthetic leg, I worship a god with a prosthetic leg!

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