thrissur with preliminary autopsy findings confirming the initial suspicion that the elephant adiyattu ayyappan had died due to impaction bowel obstruction in thrissur on monday veterinary experts have stepped up their demand for a change in the food pattern and nutrition management of captive elephantsmembers of the veterinarian team who had conducted the autopsy at malayattoor forest range said the final report would be ready only after the result of the viscera sample analysis was submitted by the pa thology department of the college of veterinary and animal sciences mannuthy it was clear that the elephant was suffering from impaction and associated complications in the large intestine they said adding that over 70 of the captive elephants that died in kerala were suffering from impaction the cause was the feedpalm leaves which are less succulent with hard fibres constitute a major portion of the feed trigger impaction among captive elephantsthe veterinarians suggested that legal steps could be taken to ensure that elephants were given green grass and other succulent fodderaccording to them ensuring enough supply of water was an important requirement for their healthy upkeepofficials from animal welfare board india have also recommended such changes in the management and feed of captive elephants in keralalack of regular exercise is another major factor that leads to impaction wild elephants walk for 20 hours a day whereas the captive elephants largely remain tethered to a point and this leads to indigestion and impaction veterinarians saidveterinarians attached to the forest department said they had stopped giving palm leaves to the 30odd elephants they keepwe also allow them to roam freely in an open area where enough feed and water are provided said a forest veterinarian