Neuro-tonics & ray therapy work, zoo hippo out of moat after 3 wks

KOLKATA: The four-year-old ailing hippopotamus at Alipore zoo has finally come out of its moat after over three weeks on Sunday. All these days, it was unable to move probably because of a neurological disease or an injury in its front leg. It stayed put in a pool of water in its enclosure and refused to leave even in the evening for night shelter.

TOI on Jan 9 wrote that the hippo had started responding to the nerve-stimulating medicines and antibiotics in form of injections and UV ray that were used to treat it and even made some movement. It is also having food now, said a zoo source. The hippo, though, is still away from public eyes with view-cutters guarding its enclosure on zoo premises.


The city zoo vets had also got in touch with their counterparts in Odisha's Nandankanan, from where it was brought in 2024. While zoo officials here remained tight-lipped, Sarat Kumar Sahu, senior veterinary officer at Nandankanan, confirmed that the Alipore zoo officials had contacted them. "They were suspecting some neurological ailments. We asked them to administer some neuro-tonics," Sahu added.

"There was painful swelling in its front leg. So, we didn't rule out possibility of a bacterial infection, hence antibiotics were given. Ray therapy was also used to give it relief," said a zoo source.

The source said that vitamins B1, B6 and B12 — crucial ‘neurotropic' B vitamins that work together for healthy nerve function, energy production, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis to address deficiencies that cause tingling, numbness, and fatigue — were provided.

Former zoo vet D N Banerjee said since the boundary around its moat and the slope they use to get into the pool are concretized, there's high possibility of it injuring its leg while getting into the pool. "The swelling points to that. More than any neurological issue, I think the swelling in its leg indicates a bacterial infection. It also restricted its movement," Banerjee added.

A source said the hippo weighing around two tonnes was stuck in the moat since Dec 22. "Initially, the swelling wasn't noticed. When the moat water was cleaned to bring it out for treatment, the swelling was noticed. Then antibiotics in form of injections were administered," he said, adding that the moat was later filled back with water as hippopotamus is an animal that needs constant hydration.

TOI earlier reported that the officials have set up a five-member medical team which is monitoring the inmate — named Hippo One — 24x7 and were in touch with other zoos to decide on the course of treatment. Ray therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free method that helps alleviate pain, improve joint mobility, and reduce stiffness.

Asked how an animal like hippo can be administered an injection in case it's not moving into its night shelter, a zoo source said if the animal is static and is in pain, vets and staff can approach it from behind and ‘stab' the needle without the syringe on its back first. "Then, the syringe is attached to the needle to administer the medicines, be it nerve stimulants or antibiotics," said the source.

The young male was brought to Alipore zoo from Nandankanan with a female companion. The female died within days of arrival. The city zoo houses another hippo, a female aged around 22.