Early one morning, Mama the elephant embarks on a medical routine that many seniors would find familiar, if daunting. First, she pops some pills — 144, in her case, for conditions such as joint stiffness and fluid retention. They come stashed inside two dozen peanut butter sandwiches piled inside two gray buckets. At a keeper’s prompting, Mama tosses her head back, curls up her trunk and opens her mouth so the keeper can toss in the sandwiches one by one. Next, it’s time for some blood tests, a bath, a foot exam, a massage with the elephant version of Bengay, and a weight check. All week, a team of experts monitors Mama’s activity level, appetite, stool consistency, sleep habits and scores...
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