In the February and March issues of the AES newsletter we shared a lot of information about Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) and we hope this has shed some light on the need to develop a better understanding of the disease and more effective methods for monitoring and treating it in Asian elephant range countries. With an estimated 30,000-40,000 Asian elephants left, the loss of every young elephant has a ripple effect on the survival of the species.
We are asking AES supporters to step up and help us work to secure a better future for elephants by either coming out to a participating California Pizza Kitchen on April 27th or making a donation that day to combat EEHV.
But what do we hope to accomplish with your help?
Asian Elephant Support has a few goals in mind when it comes to aiding in the fight against EEHV. As we mentioned last month, Thailand is the only Asian country to date that has established a national working group dedicated to understanding EEHV within its borders and helping provide effective treatment to elephants with the disease. Asian Elephant Support endeavors to help establish similar working groups in the 12 other Asian countries in which elephants roam. With these groups working with researchers and scientists from around the world, we hope to gain a better understanding of the prevalence of the disease and the mortality rates associated with it in wild populations as well as populations in human care.
We also hope to support more laboratories across the Asian elephant range countries so they can access necessary equipment and trained personnel to collect and process samples to monitor the disease in elephant populations.
Asian Elephant Support has a long history of providing funding for veterinary programs throughout Asia – allowing medications and skilled supportive care to reach animals in need. Our fundraising goals include continuing to support veterinarians in the field with money for salaries, equipment, and effective treatments against EEHV.
Ultimately, we hope the money we raise to fund EEHV research, testing, and treatments will lead to the development of a vaccine that will prove effective against the virus for elephant populations.
With your support and our partnerships with other individuals and organizations vested in eradicating this disease, AES is confident that we are making progress in the right direction. We hope you will join us in the effort to defeat EEHV and support the conservation of Asian elephants.