AES Loves Asian Elephants in India

During Asian Elephant Awareness Month 2020 AES sent out an eBlast highlighting some of its work in India:

We at AES have TONS of LOVE for Asian elephants and the people who work with and live among them in their native ranges.

Today we are highlighting some of AES partnerships in India over the years.  India is big; they have the largest Asian elephant population, so there are many opportunities to help. Some of our earliest work in India began a good decade ago and continues today.

In 2010 we received a grant from USWFS to study emerging diseases in elephants with Drs. Arun Zachariah and N. Kalavanan, and during this work, Dr. Zachariah was able to confirm a case of EEHV (elephant herpes) during the necropsy of a wild elephant calf.  It is very difficult to be able to do a good necropsy in the wild as often a corpse is badly deteriorated before being discovered.  This was a very important finding.

Mamatha Sathyanarayana is a college teacher who understands the losses suffered both by her fellow citizens and Asian elephants as human-elephant-conflict continues to escalate causing losses of crops and lives, both human and elephant.  She teaches co-existence of people and pachyderms through her classroom and workshops for local village children.  As the traditional way of living with elephants as a mahout is disappearing, she saw urgency to record this hand on knowledge for all to use. 
Today, she is still holding workshops to educate students and the public about their national heritage, the Asian elephant, and now some of her mahout students are comfortable joining her and helping her audiences understand their concerns and caring for this magnificent animal. In 2019, AES funded Mamatha’s trip to Denver, CO, to speak at the Elephant Managers Association conference.  Her presentation to U.S. elephant keepers, sharing her knowledge of mahouts’ husbandry and caring proved exceptionally interesting and educational to this audience.  And her visit to Denver Zoo’s elephant facilities was equally educational and interesting to her.

 
AES has also funded some of Dr. Kushal Sarma’s elephant health clinics.  A professor at the Guwahati University Veterinary School, its location to Kaziranga National Park where a population of privately owned elephants is engaged in the tourist industry, has kept Dr. Sarma busy on his weekends and holidays caring for these elephants.  One remarkable incident was a call he received from a tea plantation advising an adult bull elephant had been electrocuted by their power lines but was still alive.  Dr. Sarma gave instructions until he could get to the location.  Once there, lots of fluids and medicines, then a back hoe to help the bull back on his feet, and one very fortunate elephant headed to where a herd was waiting nearby.

We have helped the Wildlife Trust of India when they monitor elephants’ health at annual Sonepur Mela gatherings, field researchers implementing new automated methods of protecting village people and reducing human-elephant-conflict, a technical workshop to reduce elephant-train accidents, and so much more.

Jun Update - August 2020

In 2015 AES partnered with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation on Operation: Save Jun in an effort to send assistance to help an approximately three year old elephant who suffered serious injuries to his forelimb after being snared.

Jun - August 2020

Much needed funds not only allowed for veterinarians to travel to Vietnam, but also, helped to build an effective treatment center for Jun and other elephants in the region and provided the necessary medical supplies for multiple sedations and debridement of the wounds . AES funds also supported the travel expenses of experts who worked with caretakers on training techniques that allowed for the regular, follow-up treatments of Jun’s injuries and establish proper training methods for other elephants in the future.

In an update we received the week of August 9, 2020, Jun’s caretakers report that he is still receiving daily treatments including foot soaks, and that he is healing very well.

EMERGENCY FUNDING IN SUMATRA

Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

From funding provided by AES, a new ERU (Elephant Response Unit) at the BBSNP in west Lampung province was established and supported from March to May 2020. This included the new team receiving basic training in all skills for captive elephant care and management, Human-Elephant Conflict-Mitigation, and forest patrols. This helped lay the first foundation for the new ERU to become an effective tool for peaceful coexistence between local communities and elephants by working together for sustainable livelihoods, forest and wildlife conservation, and animal welfare.   

Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this new ERU’s long term funding was delayed where they would not receive funding for several months. AES was able to provide them emergency funding to fill this gap in order to keep the training and program on track rather than regressing during the lull.
 

MED CARE BOXES IN THAILAND

In March, tourism came to a screeching halt in Thailand due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This in turn resulted in the tourist camps closing and the mahout owners returning with their elephants back to their home regions, and in many cases to very remote areas.

Almost immediately a partnership was formed by the Thai Elephant Alliance Association and the Center for Elephant and Wildlife Research to provide medical care to all elephants including those that were no longer in areas or camps with veterinarians.
 
AES provided funding to both the TEAA and the CEWR to help with the additional visits, medicines and supplies that would be needed to help in this crisis. Part of that help was to provide first aid emergency med care boxes to elephant owners so that they could perform some health care themselves. TEAA provided food supplies for the elephants.
 
Throughout this time a total of 72 kits to help over 1200 elephants across Thailand have been distributed: some for communities where they do have some veterinary practitioners but most for camps and owners without veterinarians. And what do these big blue boxes contain to help Asian elephants? Wound dressing kits, pain killers, gastrointestinal drugs, ophthalmic drugs, vitamins, antibiotic injections, NSAIDS injections, among other medicines.

AES Loves Asian Elephants in Thailand

During Asian Elephant Awareness Month 2020 AES sent out an eBlast highlighting some of its work in Thailand:

We at AES have TONS of LOVE for Asian elephants and the people who work with and live among them in their native ranges.

One of our most active partnerships is in Thailand with the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research, part of Chiang Mai University.

In 2019, AES bought a new van for their CMU Mobile Veterinary Clinic to provide health care services to elephants , even in remote areas located far away from veterinary 👩‍⚕‍👨‍⚕‍ services. The Van routinely visits camps to examine elephants and provide preventative care as well as guide owners in husbandry care. In addition the Van is on call for emergency situations and provides transportation for researchers involved in improving elephant health and welfare.

In an effort to provide health care to all elephants during the COVID-19 crisis the Mobile Vet Clinic in conjunction with the Thai Elephant Alliance Association has conducted health checks, clinics and provided emergency medical kits (partially funded by AES) for all owners registered.

Thai CMU Mobile Vet Van Report

If you have been following AES via Facebook and reading previous newsletters you will know that the CMU Mobile Vet Van that AES donated last year to the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research has been extremely busy during the covid pandemic. In partnership with the Thai Elephant Alliance Association they have been able to help many camp owners and mahouts take care of their elephants when they would not have otherwise been able to afford veterinary care due to loss of tourism income.  

Dr. Khajohnpat Boonprasert, Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University

Since March 2019 the CMU Mobile Vet Van has traveled about 58,430 km (36,306 miles) with 5,000 km (3,106 miles) of that during the covid-19 pandemic. That is a lot of trips and many elephants that have been helped thanks to the donations made to AES to provide the van as well as provide medical supplies during the crisis.

This month Dr. Khajohnpat Boonprasert of the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research, Chiang Mai University has reported back about 2 of their recent trips.

“Friday July 3: CMU and TEAA staffs went to Mae Jame district for an urgent emergency case. A new born calf had gotten wound in abdominal and its intestines pulled out. We took 4 hours to arrive at the closest village to the calf. Unluckily, the calf died 2 hours before we arrived. Although, we could not save the baby’s life, we provided health care services for the other elephants there, such as a broken tusk case.”

“Monday July 6: Gastrointestinal distress/constipation in Asian elephants
A 45-year-old pregnant female elephant (Pang Tang-Mo) had suffered from GI discomfort in the middle of the night due to GI constipation. She could not pass her stool out normally and gasses in the intestine were continually built-up causing a lot of pain. The mahout team looked after her closely throughout the night. Our team provided intensive treatment with a painkiller, IV fluids, GI stimulants, encouraged movement, and performed rectal enema. She responded to the treatment very well and recovered the following day.

“This problem can be caused by various factors which including improper diet, inappropriate water consumption, low physical activities of elephants, etc. GI constipation/colic can even contribute to the life-threatening to the elephants in some severe cases. So the proper management whether elephant diets or encourage physical activities is very important especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which the activities of the elephant had been changed due to less tourist visiting.”
#ElephantHealthOurHeart

Sri Lankan Children Connect with Orphaned Elephants

July 2020 - AES would like to take you to Sri Lanka, where for over 4 years, we have worked closely with Dr. B. Vijitha Perera supporting the care of orphaned elephants at Elephant Transit Home (“At Athuru Sevana”) in Udawalawe National Park. Elephant Transit Home’s goal is to rehabilitate orphaned elephants and release them back into the wild at the age when they can care for themselves. In a country with approximately 6,000 wild elephants, Elephant Transit Home has taken in hundreds calves in the last 25 years. This is a challenging task, as these young elephants often come with serious nutritional deficiencies, disease and a host of other issues.

Previously, our funding for ETH has gone to monitoring the youngsters while in human care and then upon release. But our most recent partnership is centered on community partnership, specifically with school children.
 

Orphaned for a variety of reasons, as we see in almost every elephant range territory, Human Elephant Conflict is a major factor for these calves. In an effort to gain community support, Dr. Perera has written and distributed two books, which Asian Elephant Support is proud to have sponsored. One of which, A Cry for Milk - written in Sinhala and translated to English - talks about the reasons why calves are separated from their mothers, the extraordinary care given when these elephants come to Elephant Transit Home and the success stories this group has seen after the release of juveniles back into the wild and the joy of them finding new herds and having babies of their own.

Dr. Vijitha Perera with ETH staff

& Government Officials receiving the books

Sharing these stories with school children, cultivating a sense of concern for orphaned calves and understanding for lengths taken to save these babies, was the purpose behind A Cry for Milk. Sixty pages of information and photos from Elephant Transit Home’s amazing work, fills this book. Asian Elephant Support is so thankful for the opportunity to fund the effort to develop greater bonds between the next generation, both human and elephant. We hope you, our supporters, enjoy some of the photos from this wonderful book!

AES Helping CRU Tangkahan During covid-19 Shut-down

HOW A TINY VIRUS CAN KNOCK THE KNEES OUT FROM UNDER AN ELEPHANT!

The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is a unique subspecies of the Asian elephant only found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.  The Sumatran elephant has been placed on the list of Critically Endangered species after losing half of its population in a single generation.

Currently approximately 1,700 Sumatran elephants are left in the wild.  Increasing fragmentation and loss of habitat has led to increased human-elephant-conflict (HEC).  In the recent past, HEC has been handled by capturing the raiding elephants, driving them, or scaring them off using sound and fire.   Increases in HEC incidents threaten elephants as this leads to both retribution killing and to the capture and removal of elephants, which remain in captivity and decreases the wild population.

Conservation Response Units (CRU) are an important development in the long-term strategy to conserve Sumatran wildlife.  The CRU utilizes captive elephants, their mahouts, and local community representatives for direct, successful field-based conservation interventions.  These units support the conservation of wild elephants and habitat, benefiting other wildlife as well, and create opportunities for local communities, achieving positive outcomes for both elephants and people.

CRU Tangkahan, introduced in 2002, has also been instrumental in developing ecotourism in this region.  This established a significant alternative livelihood for the local community who were previously involved in illegal logging inside the Gunung Leuser National Park.  Ecotourism also became a sustainability strategy for the CRU concept itself.  Tangkahan is the longest established CRU unit who started to be self-sufficient through ecotourism development.

And then, that ‘tiny virus’ – COVID-19 – hit the scene!  The government of Indonesia has shut down acess to visitors to all national parks and tourism operations including Tangkahan.  With zero income from the tourism sector at the moment, the community in Tangkahan, including the rangers who are taking care of the elephants, have been badly impacted.

While Asian Elephant Support can’t return the tourists to Tangkahan, we can help keep this CRU’s elephants, their community rangers and staff together.  AES recently wired funds to help with this emergency situation for three months so they can continue their conservation commitments.  Now, our concern is whether the three months will be sufficient for tourism income to return. 

Way Kambas ERU Rescues Wild Elephant Calf

Learn about the rescue of a wild elephant calf by the Way Kambas ERU as reported by AES Grantee, Dr. Christopher Stremme, Elephant Veterinarian.

This report helps to illustrate the many considerations and the large amount of effort and commitment involved in helping a lone wild elephant calf 's chance of survival and opportunity to thrive.

Click here for the report

New Elephant Response Unit Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Sumatra, Indonesia

AES is supporting a knowledge exchange between highly experienced Mahouts from the Way Kambas Elephant Response Units (ERU) in Sumatra, Indonesia and recently hired Mahouts for a new patrol unit in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

This new ERU unit is being established to protect the park’s wildlife population, including critically endangered wild Sumatran elephants. A big THANK YOU to the ERU Mahouts for their dedication and to our field partner Komunitas Untuk Hutan Sumatera

Summary of Final Report on A Wild Life Project on Human-Elephant Conflict Control Mechanism by Community Engagement West Bengal, India 2019

In 2019, Asian Elephant Support partnered with The Society for Nature and Animal Protection (SNAP) in a community engagement program in North Bengal, India as the emergence of Human-Elephant Conflict in this region has become a significant issue. The migration or foraging of elephants in and around Gorumara National Park, so close to human settlements, has resulted in episodes of crop-raiding, the death of human residents from elephant attacks as well as elephants being killed by humans living in this area as a protection measure.

SNAP developed this particular community engagement project, with three primary objectives in mind. The first goal was to work with the residents in the forest fringe areas of Gorumara National Park to implement an awareness campaign, focusing on the “ecological and cultural value of keystone species of North Bengal”. Awareness and community management programs were started in ten areas to reduce the rate of conflict. Recognizing conservation of species involves caring for the people who live among them; camps were set up for local residents to receive health and eye exams and necessary medicine. An additional part of the community engagement to promote animal protection included the distribution of 150 school bags and study materials.

The second component of SNAP’s goals was the formation of Elephant Squads. In conjunction with the Joint Forest Management committee, six teams were formed. Working with local villagers, they were able to track animals and identify vulnerable areas, developing a route map to reduce Human-Elephant Conflict and assist the Forest Department to control poaching in the forest and know corridors.

The third and final objective was to support the Elephant Squads on night patrols by providing kits to assist with monitoring the area elephants’ activity. 20 head lamps and 40 high-power search lights were provided to the Squads. The Forest Department received four night-vision cameras to manage the movement of herds at night. Additionally, two Bee Sound Amplifiers were provided and the effectiveness of this tool in the reducing incidences of conflict is being monitored.

To date, Forest Department and other officers believe SNAP’s project goals to engage the community and reduce Human-Elephant Conflict have had and will continue to have a positive impact on the coexistence of humans and elephants in the Gorumara National Park area.

Asian Elephant Support is proud to have provided support to The Society for Nature and Animal Protection and the Project Leader, Mr. Sanatan Goswami on this critical effort to work with community members to preserve and protect the elephants of Gorumara National Park and beyond.

Assisting CEWR and TEAA during covid-19 pandemic

AES is assisting the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research and the Thailand Elephant Alliance Association in helping elephant owners and camps to provide medical care to their elephants during their  loss of revenue due to covid shutdown of tourism. The recent funds that AES has provided were used to provide free of charge medicine for the CMU mobile elephant clinic (that AES provided last year). The funds were also used to provide 30 First aid med-boxes for elephant and camp owners to treat elephants.

Shown below are some of the blue  First aid med-boxes for the owners to treat their elephants. These photos were taken on a recent trip by the CMU mobile vet van to villages in Mae Jam district to help 100 camp elephants.

COVID-19 IMPACTING ASIAN ELEPHANTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

It is impossible to think of anyone not impacted in some way by COVID-19 and, yes, it is seriously affecting Asian elephants in range countries as well as those who care for them and those who must find a way to live with them in mutual safety.

With tourism shut down, both elephants and mahouts are left wanting.  Their livelihood has never been one of sufficient profit margins where safety nets of large bank accounts could be acquired.  And there has never been a way, much less a need, to harvest and store hay and grain for elephants.   While not ideal, that was okay…until there were no tourists!  Thus, we are receiving inquiries and know there will be many more as COVID-19 reaches all areas in Asian elephant range countries.   In view of this developing need, we are initiating an appeal to benefit the working elephants in Asia affected by the loss of tourism.
 
If you are able to help, all donations will be put to good use, and here are some ideas of the needs:

• $20 buys high quality fodder for one elephant for one week

• $50 provides a one-month supply of meals and equipment for a mahout

• $100 ensures veterinary supplies for any elephant medical emergency

• $500 feeds one elephant for six months with high quality fodder and nutritious supplements

• $1,000 supports approximately one month of medications for the mobile vet clinic to care for any elephants in need of medical assistance   

Click here to donate

Annual CPK Fundraiser Postponed

In following the rapidly unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, the board of directors of Asian Elephant Support has decided it is best to postpone our 10th Annual California Pizza Kitchen fundraiser that was set for the end of April, 2020.  We are now planning to hold it on September 21st -24th.

Please keep yourself and your loved ones safe and well.....and wash your hands and practice social distancing!

Interim Update on Project to Reduce HEC in South West Bengal, India

In May 2019, Asian Elephant Support assisted in funding a project: Mitigation of “Human-Elephant Conflicts” by training and implementation of low-cost crop-guarding methods in Southern West Bengal, India. Samya Basu, Principal Researcher and Coordinator for Asian Elephant Conservation Foundation, provided us with a midterm report in December to share.

Since 2013 the population of elephants in the study area of Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve (~415 square kilometers /102,000 acres) has increased by more than 69%. While the total number of elephants in the area accounts for less than 20% of the entire population in the state, claims for damages in the area account for more than 50-55% of total claims in West Bengal. In August of 2018, traditional means of driving away crop-raiding elephants with which forest agencies would assist, such as the use of firecrackers and torches, were banned by the Supreme Court of India, making it harder for villagers to deter marauding elephants and avoid the retaliatory killing of elephants.When initially presented to Asian Elephant Support, this Project’s goals were to:

1. Mitigate Human-Elephant “Conflict” and engage local community to secure a safe and free passage for elephant herds in entire home range.

2. Introduce low-cost crop-guarding methods to mitigate human-elephant hostility through capacity building and implementation to minimize the crop depredation by elephants.

3. Maintain “0” retaliatory killing of elephants like last 2 years.

Since the funding of the Project, Mr. Basu and his colleagues have begun work on reviewing and updating the “Elephant Distribution Map” as crop-raiding patterns in the study zone have changed. They are coordinating seminars/workshops to educate local communities and hosting photography, painting and literature competitions in affected areas to build awareness and develop conservation-friendly attitudes.

Training programs on modern agricultural practices and the farming of unpalatable crops to elephants has also been implemented, alongside training on the installation of low-cost guarding systems to protect crops and homes. The designing of a booklet on alternative agricultural practices and guard systems is also in development and an attitudinal survey to understand the Project’s impacts is also underway.

We at Asian Elephant Support are excited to receive the final report in the next six months with the findings, observations and outcomes, as well as recommendations that are developed as a result of this important study. We wish to thank, Mr. Basu and the Asian Elephant Conservation Foundation as well as our own generous supporters for contributing to this important, life-saving work.

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY to these 2 special elephants: Linda and Cory

Linda and Cory are critically endangered Sumatran elephants. They were born in the Elephant Response Unit base camp in Way Kambas National Park  in Sumatra, Indonesia.

 We appreciate the care and birthday party provided to Linda and Cory by their mahouts! 

CMU Van Working During covid-19

Dr. Yeaw of the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research has reported that during the covid-19 outbreak, they have also corroborated with the Thai Elephant Alliance Association for helping elephants that need urgent veterinary services using the CMU Mobile Vet van that AES donated in 2019.

They recently treated an elephant that had been lame and non-weight bearing for many days. During the exam they found a chronic abscess and inflammation. They then opened the abcess, dressed the wound and applied anitibiotic.

Dr. Mamatha Sathyanarayana, Mysore, India Visit to Denver EMA

Reflections on My Participation in the 40th Annual Elephant Managers Association Conference
October 7-11, 2019, Denver, CO 

By AES Grantee,
Dr. Mamatha Sathyanarayana, Mysore, India

Presentation Summary:  Fifteen minute presentation started with my self-introduction, continued with power point presentation about the AES supported Asian Elephant Conservation Education and Mahouts Empowering Programmes starting in 2014 till current date.
 
“Mahouts to Conserve Asian Elephants”
Mahouts play a critical role in elephant conservation programmes in India. Karnataka Forest Department in South India is recruiting mahouts because of the rising trend in Human-elephant conflict in various parts of Karnataka State.  In continuation to “Getting along with Elephant” teachers training workshops, a series of mahout’s interaction, briefing, and education programmes were carried out with the support of AES. Its objective was to understand the indigenous knowledge and skills related to elephant management by tribal mahouts who are now with Karnataka Forest Department and further empowering them to act as conservation educators. Sensitizing mahout project has its objective to teach the students living in the conflict area the ways to behave in the presence of problem elephants. This is to avoid injury or killing of elephants and also being injured.
 
After trying all mitigation measures which did not yield much success and with the existing increase in human population and the need for the natural resources, the only option left is to learn to live with elephants. To achieve this it is essential that we change the attitude of the people. Through mahouts, students can understand the forest ecosystem and problem elephant, which suggests Human-elephant co-existence to the extent possible for the safety of human and elephant. The methodology includes play way learning teaching activities through games, drama, songs, stories, debate, maps, history, politics, personalities, art and mock conferences. How students have increased their tolerance while they are in the vicinity of the problem elephants was climax of this project. Presentation concluded with gratitude expressed to the all supporters.
 
EMA conference: how did it influence me? This conference gave me insight to the conference theme; non elephant range countries people perspective and important research taking place in relation to EEHV.
 
For the first time I had an opportunity to witness so many presentations. For the first time I had the opportunity to talk to many elephant keepers and to learn of their various experiences.
 
This conference also provided an opportunity to showcase my work on the international platform, to those who are supporters of my programmes in India. This conference has given certain experience to share with my fellow educators and mahouts.
 
This conference has helped me to inculcate required skills in my events.This conference gave the recognition to the works am doing in my home state with selfless efforts.
 
Last but not the least….. I could understand how much tireless efforts are being put in by the Asian Elephant Support Directors team to support us.

Conclusions: Such conferences and visits gives more ideas to conduct better events in our home state programmes, enriches our knowledge , helps in expanding our network horizons , more than everything makes us more responsible and urges me to render more for the conservation of Asian Elephants.
My sincere heartfelt thanks to the Asian Elephant Support directors for all their encouragement, warmth, and continued support.

Uniforms and Supplies for Myanmar Elephant Hospital camp

Little Rock Zoo has been helping fund Asian Elephant Support's work for many years.  They have developed a particular commitment to the Myanmar Elephant Hospital camp, and last year made a generous donation for medical and veterinarian supplies for them.

As this location will now be visited by a newly established eco tourism camp, 'Life in Oozie Village Ecohut' (L.O.V.E.), AES decided to add funds for mahout uniforms.

Good mahoutship is a profession and decent uniforms help both to identify the mahouts to the visitors and acknowledge their status. 

Asia EEHV Meeting - Guwahati, Assam, India

International Seminar on Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV)

4th Asia Working Group Meeting

Guwahati, Assam, India

Nov 28-30, 2019

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 including 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 about treating elephants at the mahout camp there, including foot car, 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.