Since June was such a busy month for our veterinarians Dr. Khajohnpat Boonprasert and Dr. Siripat Khammersri and the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic team, our monthly report was split into two updates. We shared the first update in our July newsletter. And this month, we share more about their critical work to save elephants in Thailand.
The CMU Mobile Vet Team on their way to Mae La Noi area
We left off with our doctors visiting the Mae Wang district of Thailand. Then, on June 16, they traveled to the Mae La Noi area, thanks to the coordination from the Thai Elephant Alliance Association (TEAA). The vets were called to provide life saving support to a 5 yearold elephant who was suffering from diarrhea and lethargy.
After taking a history, a physical exam was performed and medication started being administered. It was discovered that the young elephant’s diarrhea was being caused by ingesting soil, which can happen when there is a shift in the elephant’s environment or after a change of seasons. After some time observing the youngster, he started eating and the vets were confident the diarrhea had subsided. Before leaving the village the next day, June 17, the doctors checked on the elephant one more time and gave the elephant’s owner some medication to continue treatment if necessary.
Their next stop was Mae Tang district on June 21. The vets were called by an owner to examine his elephant’s eye with a cloudy cornea. During eye exams, the doctors use fluorescein stain in order to be able to spot corneal lesions. This elephant’s cornea was deemed clear of lesions or ulcers, but they did discover a minor irritation to the conjunctiva. The doctors used eye drops to relieve the irritation and also provided some advice to the elephant owner.
Finally, on June 21, an owner in the Mae Sariang area needed the assistance of the CMU Team and the TEAA to transport an older elephant to the Elephant Hospital at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in Lampang.
The elephant is suffering from chronic arthritis due to continuous weight shifting among her hindlimbs and forelimbs. The TEAA provided a transport vehicle and the older elephant was successfully transported to the Hospital the following morning, after quite a difficult night. We hope to follow the progress of this elephant’s health in our next report from the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic and keep you posted in our September newsletter if possible.
As always, you can visit www.asianelephantsupport.org to show your support for our tireless veterinarians who continue to travel across Thailand helping our treasured elephants by making a donation. Your donations and fundraiser support over the last year has kept the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic running and has helped save the lives of numerous elephants in need. We thank you for your continuing contributions.