AES is fighting EEHV at the International Seminar on Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV)

EEHV is a serious and deadly threat facing the global elephant population both in captivity and in the wild specifically to the young. This has prompted the formation of working groups to focus on understanding this disease and working towards treatments and vaccines needed to help save the elephant population. In 2015 the 1st Asian Working Group was formed. This last November, the 4th Asian Working Group held an international seminar on EEHV in Guwahati, Assam, in northeastern India, home to 2/3 of India’s elephants.

AES has been a supporter of fighting EEHV and was proud to be one of the sponsors for this workshop organized by Dr.s Kushal Konwar Sarma of the Faculty of Veterinary Science , AAU Khanapara and Sonja Luz of Wildlife Reserves Singapore. There were representatives from all (but 2 : Sumatra and Cambodia) of the Asian elephant range countries and included presenters from Japan, China and Pakistan. AES also provided funding for three AES grant recipient veterinarians to present about EEHV in their respective countries: Dr. Amir Sadula (Nepal), Dr. Zaw Min Oo (Myanmar) and Dr. Vijitha Perera (Sri Lanka).

Unfortunately AES President Linda Reifschneider was unable to attend the conference so AES Secretary Janet Dray represented AES. There was much for Janet to learn there about the projects and people that AES supports as well as the conditions, attitudes and culture differences among the many areas where Asian elephants reside.

The workshop organizers packed each of the three days full of activities that included allowing each region/country to present their status of EEHV and for international scientists to show their latest findings and recommendations on detecting and treating the disease. In addition, the Thailand Task Force presented their findings as well as the forms they use to collect data. One recommendation from the Assam workshop was for India to form its own Task Force.

Other activities included a panel discussion with the Forest Dept. and WWF on Human Elephant Conflict. This is a serious problem in Assam and emphasizes one of the different factors in considering elephant welfare that is not an issue for the Western world. The workshop also included several of Assam’s traditions through formal presentations, receiving a Gamosa (a typical woven cotton with embroidery), music and dance presentations.

The last day of the workshop was a field trip to Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary where in addition to a jeep ride through the reserve to see wild Asian one-horned rhinos, Dr.s Kushal and Parikhit taught the graduate veterinarians (some of whom had no elephant field experience) about treating elephants at the mahout camp there, including foot care, feces analysis, injections, and reviewing the elephants medical records.

Not only did this workshop fulfill its mission of gathering veterinarians and researchers around Asia (as well as the UK and the USA) to share information on EEHV, it included an incredible place to visit, an amazing opportunity to connect with AES grant recipients from India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal, and an invaluable experience regarding Asian elephants living in their native ranges.

Asian EEHV Working Group

In November 2016, AES president Linda Reifschneider attended the second meeting of the Asian EEHV Working Group, a group of veterinarians, elephant managers, researchers, and mahouts who are committed to providing the best care possible for elephants.  In our February 2017 Newsletter we gave an overview of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV)  and its devastating impact on Asian elephants, especially young calves, worldwide.

However, we are Asian Elephant Support, and the meeting was an eye-opening but honest wakeup call about how very much needs to be done throughout the Asian range countries to prevent deaths due to EEHV.  There the largest number of Asian elephant calves is born and, tragically, many are dying without proper diagnosis of EEHV, much less the needed equipment, supplies, and training - not just of veterinarians but also of mahouts and owners – to enable them to both identify the disease and be able to initiate treatment in the very narrow window for possible survival.

Polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) machine

To this end, AES has made their first commitment of $3,000 to cover the airfare of six participants in a three-day training workshop at Kasetsart University in Thailand.  This laboratory is well-equipped and easily accessible to participants traveling internationally from the range countries.  The workshop will provide training in the molecular diagnostics of EEHV, as well as educating the attendees in sample collecting and planning for EEHV cases.

The second phase of this project is to support the travel of two or three of the participants from the first training workshop to additional Southeast Asian countries to implement secondary workshops for more wildlife health professionals.  This approach will increase the region’s capacity to continue providing training in EEHV diagnostic techniques, allowing for the training of others in their own labs.  To date, individuals from Kasetsart University (Thailand), National Trust for Nature Conservation (Nepal), and University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka) are willing to serve as secondary trainers.  They plan on training a total of 15 additional researchers in ten labs in Asia to perform the molecular diagnostics for EEHV.

Laboratory equipment

Only 30,000 to 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild, scattered across fragmented habitats in 13 Asian countries.  EEHV is a significant threat to the survival of this vulnerable species.  The formation of the Asian EEHV Working Group together with the National Elephant Herpes Laboratory (NEHL) providing training, chemical reagents, and diagnostic equipment in Southeast Asia – with the collaborative support of AES and other organizations – is a critical step toward successfully confronting this disease in Asian range countries.  Make no mistake; it won’t be easy or quick.  But almost 100 cases have been confirmed in Asia to date, with many more deaths suspected but unconfirmed because of the difficulty of diagnosing EEHV in wild elephants and the lack of testing capacity in the range countries.    After accurate diagnosis in the lab comes training in the field, for owners and mahouts to be able to identify and respond in the small window this disease offers for possible survival.  

AES will continue to help with funding as applicable and possible.  To this end, any supporters who would want to make a gift to AES specifically toward this effort can note on their checks or PayPal donations “EEHV”.  Thank you!

Elephant Health and Management in Asia

This past year in 2014 one of our advisors, Heidi Riddle, co-authored a paper about the importance of identifying health issues in Asian elephants as seen by their veterinarians.  It is important to understand how difficult it is to find data on captive Asian elephant management throughout their range countries.  That being said the authors of this paper delved into what could potentially help both mahouts and their elephants receive the best care.  When both mahout and elephant are able to access medical care, that is a mahout is healthy and can provide for his charge, both individuals will thrive.  Finding solutions to this little known problem will certainly allow for a future with elephants to flourish.  Follow the link below to read the paper:   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4320845/

2013 International Elephant & Rhino Conservation and Research Symposium

The 2013 International Elephant & Rhino Conservation and Research Symposium was presented by the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and was hosted by the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Linda Presenting

Typically these foundations have separate symposiums, but elephants and rhinos share similar habitats and face similar conservation issues, so a joint meeting is only logical.  This was the third time these organizations have come together to share information and research project results on conservation issues such as human conflict mitigation, management, health, nutrition, and reproduction.  Participants were from around the world including the US, Canada, Germany, France, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Uganda, and South Africa.

There were over 65 presentations ranging from the latest research on the elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV), to the translocation of black rhinos, to how captive elephants can benefit wild populations. AES president, Linda Reifschneider, gave a presentation on AES’ activities for the last year and the importance of collaboration.  
directors

Directors April, Linda, and Sharon

While the presentations were very enlightening, many valuable conversations also occurred during the social events. some of the best ideas are written on a cocktail napkin!

While elephants and rhino populations are disappearing at an alarming rate, the information that is shared at these symposiums will provide a framework for preserving both of these magnificent species.  Thank you to the International Elephant Foundation, the International Rhino Foundation, and the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for providing this great educational and networking opportunity.

2011 EMA Conference

AES sponsors Richard Lair as keynote speaker at the 2011 Elephant Managers Association Conference (Rochester, NY)

Asian Elephant Support was pleased to be able to sponsor Richard Lair's attendance as keynote speaker at the 2011 Elephant Managers Association (EMA) Conference in Rochester, NY, in October. Linda, Sharon and April were in attendance at the conference and Gretchen was able to visit with him in Seattle after the conference.

Richard Lair is a world famous expert and conservationist who has had an exciting and diverse career working with and writing about elephants in Thailand. He is a native Californian and has lived and worked with Asian elephants for 34 years, 31 of which were in Thailand. He moved to Thailand in 1980 and volunteered with the Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, the country’s first conservation organization.

In 1988 he wrote the first scientific paper on the numbers and status of Thai domesticated elephants, pointing out the new threats facing a greatly diminished population. In 1997 he wrote “Gone Astray: The Care and Management of the Asian Elephant in Domesticity” for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and this publication remains the definitive text on domesticated elephant in Southeast Asia. In 2005 he edited and coauthored an “Elephant Care Manual for Mahouts and Camp Managers.” His next project will be a review of Thai law on both wild and domesticated elephants, including possible directions for the future.

For twelve years he worked at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) as an advisor. In 1993 he founded, trained and managed the Second Unit elephants for a Walt Disney film, “Operation Dumbo Drop.” He also worked on Oliver Stone's "Alexander" as safety and animal welfare officer. He was the first person to train elephants paint in Thailand and is cofounder and co-director of the one and only, world renowned, Thai Elephant Orchestra. The Orchestra has just released its third and final CD entitled "Water Music."

Richard's travel and speaking engagements kept him very busy on this trip, and we are grateful to Richard for sharing his knowledge and experience with so many other elephant professionals.

Justin Smith, Linda Reifschneider, Richard Lair and Jenni Bowman with elephants Jewell and Zina at the Little Rock Zoo

After spending a couple of days with friends in San Francisco recuperating from the long flight from Lampang, Thailand, Richard's first stop was Little Rock, Arkansas and it started out a little ‘rocky'. Due to bad weather in Houston, Texas, his flight to Little Rock on Thursday night was cancelled. The next flight out was not leaving until 8:00am Friday morning. Unfortunately, he was supposed to speak at the Little Rock Zoo at 7:30am Friday morning at a breakfast presentation for Zoo donors and volunteers. However, in the end everything worked out. April filled in for Richard at the breakfast and Richard arrived safely later that morning. We spent about an hour and a half at the Zoo's elephant barn talking with the staff and meeting the two resident elephants, Zina and Jewell. Then it was off to lunch with a couple of the professors from the University of Arkansas Little Rock before his speech at the University. His speech was written for an audience of elephant professionals, so he modified it slightly for the students. He talked a little about his background and the elephants in Thailand, but focused on how he combined his love of art with his love of science. His point for the students was to not limit themselves and to find something they are truly passionate about.

Richard Lair presents at University of Arkansas, Little Rock

Later we met Linda, our foundation President, back at the Zoo and took a tour of the rest of the zoo. Then it was off to the Riddle's Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary (www.elephantsancutary.org) to visit with Scott and Heidi Riddle. After a good visit with the Riddles, Richard and Linda flew to Orlando for a day's visit to Ringling's Center for Elephant Conservation, whose motto is: "Endangered Species? Not if We Can Help It." It was a privilege to meet with both old and new friends at the CEC and we greatly appreciate everything they have done for Asian elephant conservation and research over the years.

Richard presenting at EMA

Next, it was off to Rochester, New York. The staff and volunteers at the Seneca Park Zoo did a fabulous job hosting the 32nd Elephant Managers Association conference. There were approximately 110 participants from around the world and everyone enjoyed Richard's keynote speech. It was fascinating to hear about his journey through life and how he ended up working with the elephants of Thailand for 31 years.

Richard then traveled to the west coast to present at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and to catch up with some old friends. The Woodland Park Zoo were gracious hosts and set up a very nice event, complete with an elegant reception with appetizers and beverages. Richard gave an engaging presentation about his experiences with elephants, and focused primarily on the situation of elephants in Thailand, where he has been living for over 30 years. Gretchen and her husband had worked for Richard in Thailand for 6 months and hadn't seen him for 2 years, so they were excited to meet up with him at the event. Richard then went on to visit other friends and family in Montana and California before returning to Thailand.