I will keep fingers crossed, but remain a sceptic! The outlook remains not good at all. The pressure on the now artifical limb is enormous - highly dependent on weight monitoring - and a frequent issue with older elephant is arthritis anyway.
As a vet health expirimental treatment it is a worthwhile exercise, but I wonder what achievement will lie in store for us 2-5 years down the line. I do hope it will lead to some more definite progress in the treatment of broken bones and missing limb tissue within mega vertebrates as a whole (incl. giraffe, rhino and hippo).
I wonder if they have sought advice from Emmen Zoo (elephant) and Berlin Tierpark (rhino) plus the Elephant Working Group that has other experienced elephant vets (walking shoe technology)?
