Motala and Mosha: Landmine Victims Steppin’ Out on New Limbs
Motala, a 48-year-old female elephant, was fitted with a permanent prosthetic leg over the weekend. The elephant sparked international attention and sympathy when she lost part of her leg while working at a logging camp in 1999. The Asian elephant stepped on a landmine and due to her injuries, part of her front leg was amputated.
Sadly, the initial blood work performed on the injured pachyderm revealed that Motala had also been fed amphetamines to make her work longer and faster, an all-too common practice. Logging can be particularly dangerous for elephants. Besides logging, many elephants are also used to beg for food and money on the streets and as taxis.
