Taronga's male elephant Luk Chai is being seen by an expert elephant dentist tomorrow to check out his teeth and tusks. Luk Chai has especially small brittle tusks which, through normal play he damages and has suffered recurrent infections.

Like humans, the hardness and strength of elephant tusks is different from elephant to elephant. Zoo veterinarians and elephant keepers had been monitoring Luk Chai's tusks which had broken close to his gums.

An expert elephant dentist has been brought in to work alongside zoo vets to treat Luk Chai tomorrow.