Clue Found to Mysterious Ailment of Baby Elephant

A clue to the mysterious ailment that has been plaguing Omar the baby elephant for the past four weeks turned up in X-ray pictures taken Thursday, said a spokesman for the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

The 9-month-old Asian elephant apparently suffers from hairline bone fractures in both his front legs, just below his elbows, said park spokesman Joel Edelstein.

Veterinarians are uncertain what caused the fractures.

“The way he leans more on his right leg than his left,” said veterinarian James Oosterhuis, “and that both legs appear to be involved leads me to think it is nutritionally related.”

The elephant’s baby formula is nutritionally balanced, but problems with Omar’s digestive system may have prevented him from absorbing adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium, Oosterhuis said.

The fractures would explain the swelling in the pachyderm’s legs, and may even account for his elevated white blood cell count, which reached three times it’s normal level at the height of the illness.

Although Omar lost about 50 pounds during the illness, at 519 pounds he is steadily improving, Oosterhuis said.

Asian elephants are an endangered species, and Omar was the first to be born at the Wild Animal Park. He was rejected by his mother at birth.

Veterinarians waited until Omar’s condition stabilized before attempting to transfer him to the San Diego Zoo for the X-rays, Edelstein said.