Foot disease is one of the leading causes of death in captive elephants, and therefore foot care is a crucial aspect of elephant husbandry at The Sanctuary. Caregivers go through extensive trainings to learn about elephant foot anatomy, foot problems in captive elephants, management techniques, and preventative care.
Care Staff check each elephants’ feet several times a week to set foot care priorities and conduct weekly foot scrubs on each individual elephant. We check for rocks, cracks, abscesses, and any other issues. Care Staff take baseline radiographs and keep a photo diary of each elephant’s feet to watch for gradual changes through the seasons and years. Training walls in the barn and corrals in the habitat ensure that foot care can be safely conducted throughout the year.
