Thank You For Making the Chang Vet Aid 2021 Fundraiser a Success

Plai Salawin stands next to the CMU Van - Hundreds of elephants are helped by the Clinic every year, thanks to your support

We at Asian Elephant Support, count ourselves lucky to have such amazing friends, who love and care for Asian elephants and their caretakers as much as we do!

From Canada to New Mexico, from New York to Santa Barbara, and everywhere in between, you supported the Chang Vet Aid 2021 fundraiser and our efforts to provide the salary for Dr. Siripat, the additional Veterinarian with Thailand's Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic. 

On behalf of all of us at Asian Elephant Support, thank you for making this fundraiser such an overwhelming success. With your help we raised more than $15,000 through shirt sales and additional donations during the campaign, allowing us to not only provide the salary for the second Veterinarian but also to continue to fund emergency requests for aid throughout Asia during this difficult time. 

We hope that all those who purchased items enjoy and wear them with pride when they arrive in the mail and that all those who contributed know how grateful we are to you for your generosity. 

Linda, Barbara, Liz & Mindy

Asian Elephant Support, Board of Directors

Thanks from TEAA for CMU Mobile Vet Clinic

The week of February 24th the Chiang Mai University (CMU) Mobile Vet Clinic in partnership with the Thai Elephant Association Alliance (TEAA) responded to an emergency involving an elephant that had sustained injuries from drinking herbicide.

Below is a video from a follow-up visit to check up on how the elephant was doing. In this video Theerapat 'Pat' Trungprakan , President of TEAA, relates their work and their appreciation for AES funding the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic.

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UPDATE! Injured wild elephant calf rescue.

For several years AES has provided support for veterinary care of elephants in Sumatra.

Last year our veterinary field partner in Sumatra, the Wildlife Ambulance from the Syiah Kuala University Veterinary Faculty in Aceh, was notified of a wild elephant calf found injured with a severe ankle wound due to being trapped in an illegal wire snare. The veterinarians from the Wildlife Ambulance rescued the calf and brought it to camp where their intensive care and treatments helped the 4 year old male calf heal. The calf, named Dilan, continues to recover and his health is greatly improving.

We are grateful for the efforts of the field staff and Veterinarians of the Wildlife Ambulance who work tirelessly to provide medical care for critically endangered Sumatran elephants.

Thank you to all partners!

New Baby at Tangkahan CRU

The Tangkahan Conservation Response Unit (CRU) in Sumatra celebrated the birth of a baby elephant on January 31st. This little female, is mother Sari’s second calf. The Tangkahan CRU patrols and protects forest and wildlife in the Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra.

With our support they are able to continue this important work during difficult times due to the pandemic.

Sumatran Elephant Collaring Project Update

Satellite imaging as of December 2020, showing movement of six elephant outfitted with GPS collars

One of the critical missions of Asian Elephant Support is to support limiting Human–Elephant conflict in Asia. As the human population increases, inevitably, they are going to encroach into the habitat of wild elephants. Our goal is to increase awareness to the local communities about safe ways to co-exist with these large herbivores, who have the propensity to destroy crops.

One of the ways to address the interactions between humans and elephants is to track the elephants’ movements and map out their ranges. In August of 2019, AES approved the support for a two-year project with our long time colleague, Dr. Christopher Stremme, and the Way Kambas National Park (WKNP), for the deployment of satellite GPS collars for wild elephants living in the WKNP, southern Sumatra. Those collars are sending up-to-date tracking information on the movement of the outfitted elephants directly to the National Park authorities. Knowing the movement of these elephants provides an early warning system and helps prevent conflict with the communities whose farmland is adjacent to the National Park. The park’s Elephant Response Units (ERU) will be utilizing the tracking information to understand the elephants’ movements, habitat use, and home range size.

Satellite imaging as of December 2020, showing movement of six elephant outfitted with GPS collars

In September of 2020, AES received word that all six GPS collars had been deployed. Five (5) adult females from different groups, and one (1) adult male, received a GPS collar. These elephants and their groups were tracked by the ERUs for weeks prior to the collaring procedure in order to choose the best individual to receive the collar. The pictured map shows the tracking information for these 6 elephants so far.

Stay tuned as AES receives more data from Dr. Stremme and the Way Kambas elephants! We are proud to be a part of this conservation project supporting critically endangered Sumatran elephants. By curbing the conflict among humans and elephants, we can further safeguard Asian elephants.

Providing Support for a New Elephant Response Unit at the South Bukit Barisan National Park, Sumatra-Indonesia

Click on the image below or HERE to read the article about AES supporting a new ERU in Sumatra that was published in the December 2020 Journal of Elephant Manager Association Volume 31, No. 3.

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Critical in 2020

One of the highlights of 2020, on which AES is proud to report, is our committed veterinarians with Chiang Mai University’s (CMU) Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research Mobile Vet Clinic. In March 2019, AES donated a new, second van in order for Dr Khajohnpat and the CMU veterinarian team to treat more elephants in need of care.  Last year, with the global pandemic having wide ranging impacts on elephants, elephant camps, and mahouts, the Mobile Vet Clinic continued their dedication to provide aid to elephants in need, sometimes on an emergency basis.

2020 started off with the team heading to Mae Wang district several times in January and February. On those trips, Dr. Khajohnpat treated a young elephant with a chronic leg wound, a 45 year old elephant with an inflamed leg at Ning Tao camp, and at Mae Elephant Sanctuary, he treated an elephant suffering from colic. By March, a trip to all the camps in the Mae Wang district found him doing health checks with other veterinarians on over 600 elephants!  

As the pandemic started to hit Asia, and the Thai government began closing all elephant camps to tourists, Asian Elephant Support donated emergency funds to both the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic and The Thai Elephant Alliance Association. But the van continued making much needed medical trips. Dr. Khajohnpat reported early in the pandemic that many camps that contract elephants and skilled mahouts have allowed them and their elephants to move back to their homes and natural forests. Without income from tourists, camps can’t purchase food for the elephants or pay the mahouts.

During the ensuing months, the CMU team made trips to Huay Pakk Kood in Mae Chaem to treat an elephant with an allergic reaction from eating secretions from Ding Hou tree; to Pai District, Mae Hong Son province to treat an elephant with intestinal discomfort, and who was not eating or drinking; and to Karen Elephant Retreat Camp, Mae Tang district to treat an elephant with an eye injury. And, thanks to the many generous donations we received, the Thai Elephant Alliance Association and the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic were able to distribute free medicine for use on their calls, and assemble 30 First Aid boxes for owners’ use with their elephants.

By mid-year, impacts from the pandemic persisted at elephant camps across Thailand. With help from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thai Elephant Alliance Association, the CMU team made a trip to Mae Chaem district in Chiang Mai to hand out some of the First Aid boxes to elephant owners who had decided to take their elephants home when the camps closed down. The team also traveled to a village to make routine health checks on over 20 elephants that had been relocated due to the pandemic.

The CMU Mobile Vet Clinic made a trip to Mae Rim Elephant Sanctuary to treat constipation in a 45 year old pregnant female. After intense treatment for several days, she recovered. Another pregnant female needed monitoring in Mae Jam district, so Dr. Khajohnpat spent the night and did a physical exam. Ultimately, the mother gave birth, but sadly the calf did not survive. The doctor wrapped up August traveling to Karen Raummit elephant camp in Chiang Rai province for health checks on 21 elephants, and then to Hauy Pak Khud village, Mae Jam district to treat a baby elephant with a trunk injury and a mother elephant who had lost her calf during parturition.

September saw the team respond to several emergency calls, including one with the Thai Elephant Alliance Association, where the doctors spent the night treating an elephant suffering from iron toxicity. Other emergency calls were later in September to the Mae Chaem district, to treat a lame 42 year old elephant, perform a necropsy, and to treat a young, seven year old elephant with symptoms of EEHV.

The demand for veterinary treatments during the pandemic became higher than ever this year. AES was asked to provide support for a second veterinarian to handle the increase. In November, we welcomed Dr. Siripat Khammesri, who obtained his Master’s degree at Chiang Mai University and had worked previously at the Mae-sa camp. With a second veterinarian, the CMU van could now reach farther into northern Thailand.  By the end of November, the doctors had traveled to Surin multiple times to treat elephants at a festival, and to a Uthai province Buddhist festival to treat a very young calf with EEHV symptoms. They were also called out to Mae Wang in December to assist a mother and her day old calf to start the suckling process. This trip lasted through the night and into the next morning.

The Mobile Vet Clinic put 22,380km (13,906 miles) on the van in 2020, many on rough and slow country roads, proving how essential their service is to the elephants of Thailand. AES could not be prouder to be a part of this necessary team of critical veterinarians and technicians. Despite the challenges facing them throughout 2020, they continued their mission of providing elephant health care for all who need it.

Because AES is so committed to supporting and sharing our CMU veterinarian’s hard work, we need your help to continue their mission.

Video featuring AES partners: Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research and Thai Elephant Alliance Association

We wish to share this excellent documentary explaining the history and current care of Thailand’s captive Asian elephants featuring several of our partners.

AES is proud to partner with the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Research FVM CMU as well as the Thai Elephant Alliance สมาคมสหพันธ์ช้างไทย. Our most recent initiatives with them has been providing the salary for a second vet for the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic as well as providing veterinary supplies to remote areas of Thailand through the Thai Elephant Alliance Association.

We are grateful for the efforts of these organizations who work to support the health and conservation of endangered Asian elephants .

Click Here To Watch the Video

Celebrate 2020 with AES!

While 2021 is just around the corner, the world is anxious to see what the New Year will bring. It may seem hard to find the good, and easy to point out the struggles of 2020, but AES wants to shine a light on what accomplishments we achieved, together!

We thank each and everyone of you, who contributed to the AES mission this year with your donations and partnerships in the field.

Welcome Dr. Siripat - New Veterinarian for CMU Mobile Vet Clinic

Dr. Siripat Khammesriwith the Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic

With support from AES, our dear friend, Dr. Khajohnpat Boonprasert from the Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic, has teamed up with a second veterinarian, Dr. Siripat Khammesri. The two will both be traveling, providing veterinary care and health checks to Thailand’s elephants.

The addition of a second veterinarian is critical, especially during the pandemic that has left many elephants out of work due to the lack of tourists.  Owners have taken their elephants back to their home villages and the mobile clinic is spending much more time on the road to care for these elephants. 

Elephant from Surin Province surveys CMU Van's trunk space

One of their recent stops was to Surin Province, located in south eastern Thailand. There, the doctors collaborated with the Institute of Elephant Research and Healthcare services, livestock department and with the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.  While on this mission, the doctors treated a remarkable 65 elephants!

Veterinarians and Mahouts performing blood draw

In the photos from Surin province, you can see the doctors helping the local men and women perform blood draws from the elephants’ ears, which helps in determining an elephant’s overall health.

On the way home to Chiang Mai, they stopped at a Buddhist festival in Uthai Thani province to provide healthcare services for three elephants there.  Treatments included NSAIDs for lameness and eye care medications.   

Looking ahead, the two veterinarians will be able to travel to an extended area in northern Thailand, and be able to cover for each other for emergencies, on weekends and holidays.

With the use of the transport vehicle, both doctors will be able to serve Thailand’s elephants more effectively.  We are proud to watch the vehicle AES donated to the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic be used, both effectively and efficiently.  We hope you will follow along with us while we watch the impact of the mobile unit grow. AES thanks our donors who make such efforts happen. Thank you!

Update from Sumatra - Collaring

Five of six radio collars deployed in Sumatra

AES provided support for a project to deploy a total of six GPS collars on wild elephants in Way Kambas National Park in southern Sumatra.

Our field partners have informed us that all six GPS collars are working well and providing regular information on elephant movement to the National Park authorities, thereby helping prevent conflict with villagers whose farmland adjoins the National Park.

Preparing to fit  new radio collar on a Sumatran elephant

We are grateful for the efforts of the field staff of the Way Kambas National Park and to our in-country partner Komunitas Untuk Hutan Sumatera who work to support the conservation of Critically Endangered Sumatran elephants. Thank you to all of our partners working to reduce Human-Elephant Conflict in Sumatra and beyond!

Celebrating Veterinary Technician Week October 11-17, 2020

This week, the nation and the world will honor a group of important individuals who make animals' lives a whole lot better - The Vet Tech!

All across the world, Veterinary Technicians are making a difference for our beloved elephants. The Vet Techs working in Asian range countries are some of the most deserving of appreciation this week. They have dedicated their lives to protect and advance care and welfare of elephants in Asian range countries. They work tirelessly, across remote locations, in all weather and facility conditions, without fail.

We at AES support them in their mission to improve elephant welfare and the humane treatment of elephants.

Please enjoy this video tribute to Veterinary Technicians caring for elephants in Asia .

AES Supports Flood Relief at Myanmar Elephant Camp

In early August, monsoon rains caused massive flooding throughout Myanmar, displacing 80,000 people from their homes and destroying property. AES soon learned that the Myanmar Elephant Hospital camp was terribly affected. While thankfully no elephant or human lives were lost at the camp, mahouts’ homes were damaged, the hospital’s equipment was destroyed and sadly livestock were killed.

Waters rose more than six feet above the river bank, impacting the Elephant Hospital camp’s solar power system, which humans and elephants rely on for basic needs. Solar panels, on the roofs of buildings were spared, but inverters and relay equipment were entirely lost.

The estimated cost for replacing the necessary equipment to get the power back up and running is $3,000. In addition to that, funds will be necessary to replace nearly all of the hospital equipment. Crews are working now to bring everything back on line to sustain the camp and its residents. As we all are aware, with the ecotourism industry hobbled during the pandemic, there is little help to assist in the recovery from this devastating event.

The Little Rock Zoo Foundation and AES have previously partnered to support the ongoing work at the Myanmar Elephant Hospital camp. When AES shared the news of the flooding and destruction with them, the Little Rock Zoo Foundation stepped up and provided $2,000 for relief assistance.

AES is committed to providing the remaining necessary funds for reconstruction of the camp’s electrical system. We are looking to you, our supporters and elephant-lovers to help us deliver on our promise. Please consider a donation to this emergency project and visit our website at www.asianelephantsupport.org.

The dedicated people at the Myanmar Elephant Hospital camp have expressed their gratitude for the support provided by AES and the Little Rock Zoo Foundation.  We look forward to sharing with everyone an update on the completion of this project in coming months.

With heavy equipment unavailable, elephants' incredible strength can be employed during disaster recovery efforts in range countries. Seen here, one of the Hospital Camp's elephants moves the massive solar batteries from the flood debris. 

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

Amidst the backdrop of an international pandemic, important discussions and collaborative work to mitigate Human Elephant Conflict is still occurring all across Asia. In association with the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), Asian Elephant Support is proud to have sponsored the International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation on June 20th, in Mysore, India.

This conference provided the opportunity for researchers, students and environmentalists to share with policy-makers, strategies to reduce wildlife conflict in India for numerous species, with an emphasis on elephants. 

Presentations on effective community awareness campaigns, proven methods of alarming residents about approaching elephant herds and student-led initiatives to work with forestry department officials to enhance science-based conservation strategies were just a portion of the Conference’s vital topics.

Our hope at AES, is that the continuous development of education, communication and the implementation of best-practices to reduce the challenges for humans and wildlife coexisting will lead to a brighter future for Asian elephants in India and throughout the continent. Our sincere thanks are extended to Dr. Mamatha Sathyanarayana and the KFD for coordinating this conference and sharing our mission to care and conserve Asian elephants.

SRI LANKAN SCHOOL BOOK DONATION PROGRAM

For several years Asian Elephant Support has helped fund the Biodiversity & Elephant Conservation Trust’s educational program reaching hundreds of schools each year. This one day program gives Sri Lankan middle school students a well delivered program covering the history of the Sri Lankan people with Asian elephants, the biology of the Asian elephant, and calming the natural fears of elephants that sometimes raid crops or destroy homes searching for food. Better ways of living peacefully in elephant country and the importance of this majestic, if powerful, species to the Sri Lankan culture are all discussed. 

This year, with school on hold or on line in Sri Lanka from COVID-19, the Trust has turned its efforts to fund raising for their School Book Donation Program. This program delivers school books, sufficient for one year, and a school bag, to children of families whose parent has been killed by a wild elephant. The moment a parent is killed, the family faces severe economic problems and most times the children cannot go to school. This program is in its 12th year. 341 children have benefited from this project so far. At present their list has 85 children who receive the benefits of this project. Four of the children who have been supported over the years have entered universities and two have already graduated. This is a very creditable achievement.
 
The total cost per child, per year, for books and school bag is $35. If you would like to help a child with a year’s schooling, funds can be wired via Western Union with the following information:
Biodiversity & Elephant Conservation Trust
Sampath Bank Plc, No. 316, Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
Account. No .112260973706
Swift code: BSAMLKLX 
Bank Code: 7278
Branch Code: 122

SUMATRAN ELEPHANT COLLARING PROJECT

Exciting news from our field partners in Sumatra - Indonesia! Last year we provided support for a project to deploy a total of six GPS collars on wild elephants in Way Kambas National Park in southern Sumatra.

Due to the situation with COVID-19 the completion of the project was delayed. It was able to start in August 2020, and we are pleased to report that now six wild elephants have been successfully fitted with a collar! Data from the deployed GPS collars will help better the wildlife department and veterinarians understand migration patterns, home range sizes, and use of habitat by several different elephant herds that live within the National Park.

Furthermore the data will help the implementation of effective strategies to minimize human-elephant conflict along the National Park boundary.   We are grateful for the efforts of the field staff of the Way Kambas National Park and to our in-country partners Komunitas Untuk Hutan Sumatera who work to support the conservation of critically endangered Sumatran elephants. Thank you to all of our Sumatran partners! And thank you to all of our generous donors who continue to fund this important work towards the conservation of elephants in Sumatra and beyond!

Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

At the meeting in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, our advisor Heidi Riddle met with various colleagues including AES grantee Wahdi Azmi from Sumatra, Indonesia.

We were honored to receive an invitation to a Partners Roundtable held during the 10th Meeting of the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group, December 4-6, 2019 in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.  The Partners Roundtable provided an opportunity to link Asian elephant conservation donors with government representatives from Asian elephant range countries.   

 AES President Linda was unable to attend so our advisor Heidi Riddle represented us at the meeting. 

The IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group is a volunteer advisory group of Asian elephant experts in various fields who provide technical expertise to governments and organizations.

These gatherings are always a nice opportunity to meet various partners, including AES grantees, from Asia and share experiences about developments in Asian elephant conservation.

First AES support benefiting Borneo elephants

In December of 2019 AES provided its first grant for Borneo elephants to Borneo Wildlife Preservation.

AES provided USD3400 to go towards the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park build-out project, to start Feb 5th 2020.

This project is ESSENTIAL to the ongoing survival of elephants in Borneo and will provide comfort, space, enrichment and easy access to medical care for 14 captive elephants

August 30, 2020 Update: Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions this project is still temporarily on hold.

AES Loves Asian Elephants in Cambodia

During Asian Elephant Awareness Month 2020 AES sent out an eBlast highlighting its recent work in Cambodia:

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

While our previous articles have covered some of our longer relationships in Asian range countries, we wanted to include a new opportunity we have to help elephants and their care givers in Cambodia.

At the beginning of 2020, the Kulen Elephant Forest sanctuary manager, Leanne Wallace, submitted a grant request for funding to translate into Khmer the Elephant Care Manual for Mahouts and Camp Managers co-authored by  Preecha Phuangkum, Richard C. Lair, and Taweepoke Angkawanith in 2005.  AES was delighted to do this funding as the manual will be an excellent resource for camp managers, mahouts, and possibly attending veterinarians in Cambodia.  This 152-page reference includes drawings by Sirikorn Inkom and provides some basic elephant medical and husbandry advice to both mahouts (the daily care givers to the elephants) and the camp managers, in order for them to better assess when a vet needs to be called or be able to handle an issue by themselves.

The first publications were in Thai and English.  The English version can also be accessed online including on our website: Elephant Care Manual for Mahouts and Camp Managers.  The manual has also been translated into Japanese and Lao.  At this writing the Khmer manual is almost complete, having been delayed by COVID-19, and we know this will be a welcomed and valuable tool for those taking care of elephants in Cambodia.

AES Loves Asian Elephants in Sumatra

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

We at AES have TONS of LOVE for Asian elephants and the people who work with and live among them in their native ranges, including in SUMATRA 🏴󠁩󠁤󠁳󠁭󠁿.

Our collaboration with Sumatra 🏴󠁩󠁤󠁳󠁭󠁿 has passed the decade mark and over the years we have supplied two portable scales for veterinarians to weigh elephants , helped with emergency funds for supplemental fodder during a couple of serious droughts . We have supported educational opportunities by assisting with mahout workshops and sending three Sumatran 🏴󠁩󠁤󠁳󠁭󠁿 mahouts to African Lion Safari in Canada to learn from their master training and husbandry program. We have helped fund fencing for elephants to have time to freely socialize when not working to wells so that they could quench their thirst when drought dried up natural water sources. There have been rescues when funding was needed to move a young adult bull from a bad situation to helping with formula and medicines for calves that sometimes get separated from their herds.

Our recent assistance was funding a GPS collaring project in 2019 to track the movements of herds of wild elephants to better understand how it may be more possible for elephants and humans to co-exist when the land both use overlaps. Due to the pandemic this project was delayed but has now been done and 6 elephants have been successfully collared in Way Kambas National Park. And COVID-19 has AES helping again with emergency funding to Tangkahan Conservation Response Unit as their eco-tourism income totally dried up. We also supplied initial funds to help set up a new Elephant Response Unit in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park and then emergency funding to cover the delay of their longer-term financing being put in place, again the result of the pandemic.

A lot of good work has been done in Sumatra 🏴󠁩󠁤󠁳󠁭󠁿 by amazing people for Asian elephants - work that other range countries have looked to as a model for improving their care and conservation of Asian elephants.

We thank YOU for your support that has made all of this possible. YOU really have made a difference for both captive and wild elephants !