Helping an elephant with an itch

The SPANA team in Myanmar (Burma) recently helped Sien Nen, a 58-year-old elephant. Sien Nen, which means ‘Diamond Palace’ in Burmese, helps her owner by pulling logs through the jungle.

Her owner noticed small bumps covering Sien Nen’s skin, which was causing her irritation. Our vets examined Sien Nen and diagnosed a skin disease, caused by a blood born parasite. This disease was transmitted by a fly bite and is most common during the rainy season when flies are breeding. Although thankfully the disease is not life-threatening, Sien Nen had started scratching as a result, which can lead to far more serious skin wounds over time.

The team gave anti-parasitic medication to Sien Nen and advised her owner to give her regular baths to relieve the irritation. Much to her owner’s relief, within days Sien Nen’s skin had started to clear up and she had stopped trying to scratch her skin, a positive sign that her discomfort had eased.

You may also be interested in

Together for donkey’s years

Read about the treatment SPANA provided to Marwa the donkey in Morocco.

Campaigning against animal cruelty in Sierra Leone

Read more about our work with Campaign Against Cruelty to Animals in Sierra Leone.

Working elephants – getting off on the right foot

Read about SPANA's work with working elephants in Myanmar.

Together for donkey’s years

Read about the treatment SPANA provided to Marwa the donkey in Morocco.

Campaigning against animal cruelty in Sierra Leone

Read more about our work with Campaign Against Cruelty to Animals in Sierra Leone.

Working elephants – getting off on the right foot

Read about SPANA's work with working elephants in Myanmar.