Latest news with #Indu
Atlantic
a day ago
- Health
- Atlantic
Who Sunscreens an Elephant?
For all of the eons that animal life has existed on Earth, the sun has been there, too. And for all of those eons, animal life has had only one solution for intense exposure to the sun: evolution. Some creatures have thick, dark skin that's resistant to UV harm; others sprout fur, scales, or feathers that block the sun's rays. Many fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds may produce a compound that protects their cells against the sun's damaging effects. Hippos, weirdly, ooze a reddish, mucus-y liquid from their pores that absorbs light before it can destroy their skin. And plenty of creatures have evolved behaviors that take advantage of their environment—rolling around in dirt or mud, simply retreating into the shade. But certain modern animals have sun problems that natural selection can't easily solve. Some reside at zoos that can't perfectly replicate their habitat; others live at latitudes that their ancestors didn't experience. Others spend too much time sunbathing in a living-room window, or sport sparse or light-colored fur or hair because their domesticators liked the way it looked. For these animals, people have come up with a shorter-term solution: sunscreen. If, that is, a creature is willing to accept the treatment. Indu, an Asian elephant who lived at the Phoenix Zoo, was game. A few years ago, Heather Wright, one of the zookeepers, noticed the tops of Indu's ears pinking, peeling, and flaking in the summer heat, much like her human keepers' did. So her caretakers picked up some zinc-oxide-based sunblock—specially formulated for sensitive (human) skin—and dabbed it on the elephant. Indu, to be fair, was used to a level of care most wild animals don't enjoy. 'We had already been applying lotion for dryness,' Wright told me. The elephant knew the drill: Once in the barn, she'd lumber up to a window with an opening for her ear and stick the appendage through. As far as zoo staff members could tell, the treatment helped. 'There's nothing magical' about other animals' skin, Leslie Easterwood, a large-animal veterinarian at Texas A&M University, told me: Bake it in the sun, and it will burn. Scientists have spotted whales suffering from sunburns; cats, dogs, horses—even alpacas, turtles, and penguins—can develop all kinds of skin cancers. Pigs, in particular, 'have skin most similar to humans,' Mitchell Song, a veterinary dermatologist based in Arizona told me. At Zoo Miami, keepers have spread mud on older, arthritic wild pigs who can't wallow as well as they did in their youth; they've also applied sunscreen to a babirusa, a species of swine native to Indonesia's forests, and to a Kunekune pig, Gwen Myers, the zoo's chief of animal health, told me. In some sunny places, vets commonly recommend sunscreen for pets and other domesticated creatures, especially light-colored dogs and horses. Steve Valeika, a veterinarian in North Carolina, advises the same for 'white cats that go outside.' This particular conundrum is one of our own making. 'You don't see a lot of white-skinned animals in the wild,' Anthea Schick, a veterinary dermatologist in Tempe, Arizona, told me. Only thanks to generations of selective breeding have they become a frequent presence in and around people's homes. Of course, to sunscreen your pet, you have to … sunscreen your pet. Some pet owners, vets told me, are definitely flummoxed by the suggestion: 'It's not widely discussed,' Schick told me. Vets are more unified in recommending teeth brushing for cats—and most cat owners still just decide they'd rather not. But some animals would certainly benefit from block: Schick told me she's seen her fair share of badly burned dogs, especially after long bouts of sunbathing that scorch their bellies. 'We see a lot of sun-induced skin cancers that could be avoided,' she said. Pit bulls, Dalmatians, and other short-haired breeds are especially vulnerable; even long-haired white cats are sensitive around their eyes, their nose, and the tips of their ears. And Easterwood estimates that the majority of paint horses, left unprotected, will eventually develop skin issues. Squamous-cell-carcinoma cases make up the majority of her workload: 'I see it every single day,' she said. The vets I spoke with generally agreed: Don't bother with sprays, which a lot of animals find annoying or downright terrifying; reapply often, and well; it is way, way, way harder to sunscreen a cat than a dog, though some brave souls manage it. But although some vets recommended human sunscreens, formulated for kids or sensitive skin, others told me they preferred blends marketed for animals. (The FDA has dubbed just one pet sunscreen, made by a company called Epi-Pet and marketed to dogs and horses, 'FDA compliant'—not the same as FDA approval, which requires rigorous safety testing.) Several warned against zinc oxide, which can be toxic to animals if ingested in large quantities; others felt that zinc oxide was worth the risk, unless administered to a tongue-bathing cat. Regardless of the product they're offered, most animals generally aren't as eager as Indu to subject themselves to a human-led sun-protection ritual. And even she was usually plied with a five-gallon bucket of fruits and vegetables while her keepers tended her ears. At Zoo Miami, keeper Madison Chamizo told me she and her colleagues had to spend months training an okapi—an African mammal closely related to a giraffe—to accept caretakers gently scrubbing sunscreen onto her back with a modified Scotch-Brite dishwand, after she lost some patches of hair on her back to a fungal infection. But for creatures in very sunny parts of the world, the alternatives are, essentially, being cooped up indoors, kept away from windows, or wrestled into full-body sunsuits. (Some dogs don't mind; cats, once again, are unlikely to comply.) And some sun-related problems, sunscreen can't fix. Gary West, the Phoenix Zoo's vet, told me he suspects that UV glare has caused eye inflammation in some of his animals; Myers, in Miami, worries about the sensitive skin around some species' eyes. 'They're not really going to wear sunglasses for us,' Myers told me. So she and her colleagues have started to wonder: 'Gosh, is this an animal that we could put a sun visor on?'
News18
19-05-2025
- News18
Panipat School Teacher Fired For Teaching Kalma To Class 8 Students
Last Updated: The principal said the teacher recited a line from the Kalma to answer students' questions about Muslim practices similar to Hindu Aarti or Hanuman Chalisa A controversy erupted at a school in Panipat, Haryana, after a teacher reportedly taught the Kalma to Class 8 students. The issue came to light when the children from Saraswati Vidya Mandir were heard reciting it at home, prompting their parents to raise concerns with the school. The teacher was subsequently dismissed. The incident took place two days ago, following the morning assembly. Mahjib Ansari, also known as Mahi, a Sanskrit teacher at the school, conducted a lecture in Class 8 during which she taught the Kalma. The children, upon returning home, hummed the Kalma, which caught the attention of their families. Upon inquiry, the children revealed that their teacher had taught it to them at school. Concerned parents subsequently gathered and approached the school on Saturday, demanding action against the teacher. They also informed the police, anticipating potential escalation. Lengthy discussions ensued between the school administration, parents and the teacher. The parents insisted that such teachings were unacceptable and demanded the teacher's removal. Responding to the parents' demands, the school principal, Indu, dismissed the teacher. Principal Indu stated that the teacher, who had been employed at the school for a year, was a Sanskrit teacher. According to the principal, the teacher explained that the children had asked about Muslim practices similar to Hindu Aarti or Hanuman Chalisa. To satisfy their curiosity, she recited a line from the Kalma. The principal further mentioned that the teacher, aware of the repercussions, had apologised for her actions. When questioned about the teacher's nickname 'Mahi' being used instead of her full name, the principal clarified that it was due to the length and complexity of her real name, which is correctly recorded in the school register. First Published: May 19, 2025, 11:39 IST
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Phoenix Zoo has no plans to replace Indu the Asian elephant anytime soon
The Phoenix Zoo has no plans to bring in another elephant following the May 8 euthanasia of 59-year-old Indu, a spokesperson confirmed. Indu had been sharing the habitat with two one-horned rhinos, named Chutti and Bhotu, the spokesperson, Linda Hardwick, said in an email on May 10. Those rhinos would stay in the habitat, she said. Indu had undergone treatment for osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that weakens cartilage over time, zoo official said, and had been struggling with age-related illnesses. Although the zoo had been giving Indu medication, treatment and therapies, she still appeared to be in discomfort, the zoo said. Staff also saw a decline in her mobility and overall health. That led to the decision to euthanize her. Her care team surrounded her as she died, zoo officials said. The president and CEO of the Phoenix Zoo, Bert Castro, said that Indu's 'legacy will live on through the stories we share, the connections she helped people form with wildlife and our continued commitment to the highest standards of animal care. She will be profoundly missed.' 'Her legacy will live on': Phoenix Zoo announces death of 59-year-old Asian elephant Indu This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo has no plans to replace Indu the Asian elephant
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Phoenix Zoo has no plans to replace Indu the Asian elephant anytime soon
The Phoenix Zoo has no plans to bring in another elephant following the May 8 euthanasia of 59-year-old Indu, a spokesperson confirmed. Indu had been sharing the habitat with two one-horned rhinos, named Chutti and Bhotu, the spokesperson, Linda Hardwick, said in an email on May 10. Those rhinos would stay in the habitat, she said. Indu had undergone treatment for osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease that weakens cartilage over time, zoo official said, and had been struggling with age-related illnesses. Although the zoo had been giving Indu medication, treatment and therapies, she still appeared to be in discomfort, the zoo said. Staff also saw a decline in her mobility and overall health. That led to the decision to euthanize her. Her care team surrounded her as she died, zoo officials said. The president and CEO of the Phoenix Zoo, Bert Castro, said that Indu's 'legacy will live on through the stories we share, the connections she helped people form with wildlife and our continued commitment to the highest standards of animal care. She will be profoundly missed.' 'Her legacy will live on': Phoenix Zoo announces death of 59-year-old Asian elephant Indu This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo has no plans to replace Indu the Asian elephant
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gram Chikitsalay ending explained: Did Prabhat really help Sudhir — and will there be season 2?
Gram Chikitsalay ending explained: Gram Chikitsalay released on Prime Video recently and people have been binge-watching it since. The plot of Deepak Kumar Mishra's Gram Chikitsalaya centers on a doctor attempting to turn around an abandoned and weary medical facility in the village. It is being praised as a wholesome and lighthearted watch. The series stars Amol Parashar as Dr. Prabhat Sinha, with a talented supporting cast that includes Vinay Pathak, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Akash Makhija, and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor. If you have watched the show, here's a closer look at what really happened at the end and whether season 2 might be on the horizon. (Spoilers ahead, you know what to do) Gram Chikitsalay ending explained Throughout Gram Chikitsalay, we see Prabhat struggling to bring even a single patient to his PHC. Things take a turn when Indu's son, Sudhir, refuses to admit that he delivered the vaccine Prabhat had given him for his mother. As tensions rise, Prabhat begins to suspect something deeper is going on and eventually discovers Sudhir in a disoriented state, alone in the middle of nowhere. It's then that Prabhat realizes Sudhir isn't lying, he's suffering from a mental health condition. After much effort, Prabhat finally convinces Indu to allow her son to be treated by a good psychiatrist. This moment marks a breakthrough for both characters and also becomes Prabhat's first real case as a doctor at the PHC. Another emotional subplot unfolds when Indu's husband, who had been missing for six years, suddenly returns, now reappearing as a wandering saint. He repeatedly asks Indu for a final offering. Initially, she ignores him, but after sending her son away for treatment, she finally gives him what he asked for. In a deeply moving scene, Indu breaks down in tears, showing the immense emotional weight she had been carrying. We also learn more about Sudhir's behavior, how, during his episodes, he would identify as a conductor, a teacher, or various other roles. It's later revealed that these were all the professions his father had once held. This hints at deeper psychological trauma, possibly inherited or mirrored from his father, raising the possibility that his father may also have suffered from a mental health disorder. Will Gram Chikitsalay have a second season? Judging by how Gram Chikitsalay ends, it's quite clear that the show is setting up for a second season. In the final episode, we see Sudhir beginning his treatment, but the show leaves us hanging without revealing whether he recovers from DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). Adding to the suspense, Dr. Prabhat continues to avoid reading the CMO's letter following the vaccine mishap, hinting at unresolved consequences. These open-ended threads strongly suggest that the makers have more in store. While there's been no official confirmation yet, all signs point toward a second season on the horizon. Gram Chikitsalay review TVF's latest creation, Gram Chikitsalay, now streaming on Prime Video, is a charming watch for those who enjoy lighthearted stories rooted in India's heartland. Like most TVF shows, it keeps things grounded and authentic, offering a slice-of-life narrative that feels real and relatable. While Gram Chikitsalay may not be as gripping or sharply written as Panchayat, the similarities are hard to miss, a village setting, an educated outsider arriving to fulfill his duties, and the subtle exploration of rural life. Despite these familiar elements, the show manages to bring in some warmth and simplicity. However I do feel that the script needed a booster shot for sure (if you know, you know). One of the biggest highlights is Garima Vikrant Singh, who delivers a standout performance as Indu. She brings depth and nuance to her character, making her one of the most compelling reasons to give this show a watch.
