With your support, Dr. Kushal Sarma continues to do amazing work for Asian elephants and the people who care for them in Assam, India. Recently he conducted an elephant health care clinic in the Orang National Park and was able to treat 32 government forest camp elephants. Orang National Park is located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River and is home to many species including Indian rhinos, Bengal tigers, and Asian elephants. The park is 78 square kilometers, but is encircled on three sides by people who are quickly encroaching on the land. The human-elephant conflict is a growing problem in this area, so the elephants are utilized in anti-poaching patrols and to encourage the wild elephant population to stay within the safety of the park boundaries.
This was a routine health care clinic and all the elephants were vaccinated against tetanus and hemorrhagic septicemia (an acute bacterial infection). In addition, some routine stool examinations were conducted and the elephants were given de-worming medication. All of the females and any bulls that appeared weak were given multi-vitamin and multi-mineral mixtures plus vitamin injections.
Dr. Sarma explaining a medical point to students
In addition to helping elephants, AES believes it is important to help the people who care for the elephants. Most of the people at this clinic are poor and have very few resources to care for the elephants. Dr. Sarma was able to distribute 40 uniform shirts and an additional 5 khukries (traditional knives). The knives are used to trim the elephants’ feet and to cut fodder for the elephants, making them a valuable tool in improving the health of the elephants. The uniforms give the mahouts a sense of pride and ownership in the role they play conserving elephants in Assam.
Mahouts in their new uniforms
A special surprise occurred during the clinic when a beautiful wild bull visited the camp out of curiosity! Upon inquiring, we were happily advised that he has many girlfriends in the elephant camps in this area and most of the calves born to captive mothers are sired by him. However, we don’t believe he stayed around for foot care or vaccinations!
Wild bull came to visit
Dr. Sarma also advised he organized an Elephant Day at his college on October 2nd and has this report:
“As a part of the countrywide celebration of “Wild Life Week” in the first week of October, the 2nd October, 2013 was celebrated as “Elephant Day” with the initiative of the Department of Surgery & Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara with various day long programmes. The celebration started with life demonstration of elephant healthcare procedures to the fourth and fifth year
BVSc & A.H. as well as some post graduate students by the experts of the department which was followed by an exhibition of rare books on elephants. In the next half of the programme, power point presentations were made on various topics involving the elephantsby Dr(Ms) Munmun Sarma, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Histology, Dr. G. Mahato, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Dr. Bijoy Dutta, Associate Professor, Surgery & Radiology and Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma, Professor & Head of the Department of Surgery & Radiology who is an internationally renownedexpert on elephants. Dr. R. N. Goswami, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Dr. A. Chakroborty, Director of Research (Vety) also addressed the students on the occasion.”
Our supporters of the “Hoof knives for Mahouts-India” program will be pleased to know that the knives are being distributed carefully and are greatly appreciated. Please watch for future updates from
Dr. Sarma and feel free to cheer for the beautiful wild bull!