Comments on: Indian Dentist: Elephant Tusk Surgery Was an “Elephantine Task”

By: Dr. Robert Nelson

Dr. Robert Nelson — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:36:18 +0000

The first elephant tusk filling? Amazing! What type of resin/ composite did you use? I will be interested to see how long it lasts with the far from usual wear/tear.

- Dr. Robert Nelson

By: Eliza Strickland

Eliza Strickland — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:04:24 +0000

@ salim: We love nitpicking! You’re right, and thanks for the catch. I’ve swapped in a picture of a smaller-eared Asian elephant.

– Eliza, DISCOVER online news editor

By: buddy

buddy — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:57:19 +0000

I agree with salim.. Kerala is a great place where elephants are treated so well 99% of the times and they gel with humans so well. Visit kerala and you will find out

By: salim

salim — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:14:37 +0000

Elephants (well, the ones that I have known in Kerala, India where Devidasan is from) have amazing relationship with their handlers and other humans.

Ok nitpicking time. Isn’t that an african elephant in the picture? Devidasan is an Indian elephand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asian-African-Elephant.png

By: Jockaira

Jockaira — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:07:23 +0000

What I find so amazing about this story is that “Devidasan was kept awake during the procedure, but the dentists report that he was fully cooperative.” I would have thought that the “dentists” would have anaesthized the animal for his own comfort and their own safety. The fact that there was so much mutual trust shows (to me) an unprecedented communication and understanding between two species.

Again, I am astounded.