Successful management of verrucous granuloma in a captive Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

Verrucous granulomas are proliferative, cutaneous lesions that often originate from minor injuries and progressively enlarge. Failure in traditional wound management interventions often warrants surgical excision, which can be particularly challenging in large mammals. A 45-year-old male captive Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with an extensive, non-healing skin lesion on the lateral aspect of the left forelimb. The lesion reportedly originated from a minor injury near the nail bed and rapidly developed fibrotic proliferation within two weeks. Conventional wound management failed to halt its progression. Histopathological examination confirmed a verrucous granuloma. Given its proliferative and treatment-resistant nature, cryosurgery using controlled nitrous oxide application was employed, resulting in noticeable regression within two weeks and complete resolution by four months. This case highlights the successful application of cryosurgery as an effective therapeutic modality for verrucous granulomas in elephants, demonstrating its potential for managing similar proliferative skin conditions in animals.