CMU Mobile Vet Clinic October Updates

 In early October, heavy rains caused significant water flow from remote areas into the Mae Tang River, leading to a sharp rise in the river’s water level. Many elephant camps, located near the river, experienced flooding. Most camps were prepared and had moved elephants from high-risk areas to higher ground for safety. October 4 marked the peak of the flooding, when access to Mae Tang was cut off, and only boats could navigate through. Fortunately, the water level began to recede the next day, allowing cars to pass, though the routes remained challenging due to mud.

Numerous organizations, including the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC), the Department of National Parks (DNP), and various government and private sectors, provided assistance to the affected elephant camps. The Chiang Mai University (CMU) vet team collaborated with DLD, DNP, and TECC veterinarians to conduct a population count in a large camp where elephants had been dispersed due to the flooding. They also advised on essential plans for proper management and care for the elephants during the flooding event.

The team providing counts and check-ups on relocated elephants after the flood

During the post-disaster recovery period, the CMU vet team and the TECC veterinary team provided targeted veterinary services for elephants in Mae Tang. The visit aimed to monitor elephant health, collect samples for testing flooding-related diseases (such as leptospirosis and parasitic infections), and administer deworming medication. From their field visits, the team observed that each camp was undergoing reconstruction. Most elephants were safe and food supplies were largely unaffected, thanks to the support from various organizations and individuals who provided elephant food and supplements.

Help AES continue to support the CMU vet team to assist with natural disasters, just like the recent flooding, by donating TODAY at www.asianelephantsupport.org/donate

CMU Flooding Update

n early October, heavy rains caused significant water flow from remote areas into the Mae Tang River, leading to a sharp rise in the river’s water level. Many elephant camps, located near the river, experienced flooding. Most camps were prepared and had moved elephants from high-risk areas to higher ground for safety. October 4 marked the peak of the flooding, when access to Mae Tang was cut off, and only boats could navigate through. Fortunately, the water level began to recede the next day, allowing cars to pass, though the routes remained challenging due to mud.

Numerous organizations, including the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC), the Department of National Parks (DNP), and various government and private sectors, provided assistance to the affected elephant camps. The Chiang Mai University (CMU) vet team collaborated with DLD, DNP, and TECC veterinarians to conduct a population count in a large camp where elephants had been dispersed due to the flooding. They also advised on essential plans for proper management and care for the elephants during the flooding event.

During the post-disaster recovery period, the CMU vet team and the TECC veterinary team provided targeted veterinary services for elephants in Mae Tang. The visit aimed to monitor elephant health, collect samples for testing flooding-related diseases (such as leptospirosis and parasitic infections), and administer deworming medication. From their field visits, the team observed that each camp was undergoing reconstruction. Most elephants were safe and food supplies were largely unaffected, thanks to the support from various organizations and individuals who provided elephant food and supplements.

Help AES continue to support the CMU vet team to assist with natural disasters, just like the recent flooding, by donating today at www.asianelephantsupport.org/donate

Elephant Distribution in Malaysia

The elephant distribution in Malaysia has now been successfully mapped!

AES supported an initiative by the Government of Malaysia to host a consultation workshop mapping the distribution of elephants in Peninsular Malaysia.

The workshop was facilitated by the IUCN-SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group.

Sumatran Veterinary Seminars

A few months ago, our partners in Sumatra conducted a two-day seminar on elephant health care for final year veterinary students. The first day of the workshop consisted of classroom lectures. The second day of the workshop focused on practical demonstrations and training on patrol elephants from nearby Conservation Response Units. The veterinary students were taught about safety concerns when working with elephants, clinical examination in elephants, drug administration, sample collection, and footcare in elephants. We are grateful for the veterinarians who are committed to educating future generations of wildlife veterinarians!

Students take part in hands-on demonstrations learning aspects of elephant care

Myanmar Elephant Workshop

Earlier this year, with support from Asian Elephant Support, the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) hosted a two-day workshop. A total of 52 MTE representatives attended the workshop and gave presentations about their experiences. Their discussions shared information about elephant conservation-based tourism, wild elephant conservation management, preventative methodologies to reduce human-elephant conflicts, captive elephant health care (including EEHV), treatments, health issues, and the population growth of MTE elephants. We are grateful for the efforts of the MTE Veterinarians who care for endangered elephants in Myanmar!

MTE workshop attendees discuss elephant related topics

Chiang Mai University Mobile Veterinary Clinic July Update

The CMU Mobile Vet team stayed busy in July collaborating with others across the region to provide support for a standing sedation to test a 60-year-old elephant for tuberculosis, provide advice and discuss elephant health topics at a local camp, conduct a training course for Long Island University students with the TECC team, and assisted in the annual health check program for elephants in the Mae Wang region.

Elephant after her annual health check up

Thankfully, there was only a small number of additional, relatively minor, cases that needed their attention as well in July. Among the cases the CMU team visited were a minor mouth injury that, while not very pretty, seemed to cause no issues or pain for the patient and so the vets recommended no major actions and observations to make sure it doesn’t worsen. There was also a case of GI upset in a 40-year-old that had resolved with advice to hydrate more often and a suggested uphill hike with her mahout. And a tall, handsome bull presented with a chronic abscess on his left forelimb. The vet cleaned and removed the dirt outside with chlorhexidine scrub, rinsed with saline irrigation, then drained the abscess revealing the narrow tract. Finally, they dried it with a cotton swab and gauze then put bacitracin ointment on it.

Bull with abscess being treated

There were also a few cases involving young elephants this month. The first was a 13-year-old who presented with right forelimb stiffness. When the vets observed her gait, they found that she could not flex her elbow joint. After a course of painkillers, topical treatments, and a daily warm massage regimen she showed improvement. The next case was a young 5-month-old calf experiencing mild lameness with a slightly swollen left hind leg. The CMU vets examined the leg and foot pad, both of which presented nothing abnormal. The little bull was also bright, alert, and acting normal otherwise. After a round of anti-inflammatory meds and a topical treatment the calf showed great improvement.

Bright, attentive little bull with mild lameness

The most challenging case of the month was a first-time mother with a tiny calf. The newborn was reportedly lethargic and caretakers were worried she was unable to nurse appropriately. Several different groups came to help assess mother and calf. They determined that mom and calf were stuck in a cycle, because baby wasn’t nursing mom wasn’t producing the hormones required to produce milk, without the milk production baby couldn’t nurse even if she could reach, and so on.  Eventually, the solution was to give the mom domperidone to stimulate prolactin secretion for milk production, build a ramp for the calf to stand on in order to nurse, and to avoid undue stress on mom the mahout would bring them back to the ramp every couple of hours to ensure baby had the opportunity to nurse often. The calf was finally able to nurse and mahouts will keep a close eye on the two for the next weeks and months.

Tiny calf nursing during examination from the vet

Thank you to the CMU Veterinary Team for their outstanding commitment to Thailand’s elephants! And thank YOU to all who help support their work through AES!

Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic Update

June for the Chiang Mai University (CMU) Mobile Vet Team was another month of tending to some of Thailand’s most vulnerable elephants, calves. This month in addition to the adults with gastrointestinal issues, eye irritation, and tetanus vaccinations there were several cases concerning calves. One calf was unable to nurse from its mother. A naughty little calf presented with a steel rod stuck in her throat. And, unfortunately, EEHV claimed the life of yet another young calf from a camp already impacted by EEHV just a month earlier.

An owner called to consult about a mother and a calf living in Mae Tang with a case of Agalactia. (Agalactia is a condition of decreased or the absence of the production of breast milk). She said that the baby often cried, had decreased feces, and attempted to suckle for milk but he preferred only the left side mammary gland. His mother had quite a bit of shrinkage of the left mammary gland while the right was still enlarged. The owner was so worried about the lack of milk consumption she started milking the rightside mammary teat of the mother and was able to bottle-feed the baby. When the vets arrived, they examined mom and calf, recommended restricting the access of the baby to only nurse from the right side so he could nurse efficiently, and prescribed Domperidone to stimulate the secretion of the hormone prolactin to help with mom’s milk production.

Calf attempting to nurse on mom’s left side

Late in the afternoon on another day, the vets got an emergency call from the owner of a 16-month-old elephant. The owner said that there was a rod of steel obstructing the young elephant’s mouth. The team rushed to aid the calf, considering the very likely possibility of having to sedate the calf.  Thankfully, the baby could eat and drink throughout the morning until the afternoon she presented signs of vomiting but she wasn’t depressed. When a stick of sugarcane fell out of her mouth the mahout noticed a 5.5-inch-long steel rod stuck sideways in her mouth. Fortunately, the little calf didn’t swallow it. The mahout was able to remove the rod before the CMU team arrived and, once they were there, the vet did a thorough exam to make sure the calf had no internal injuries to the mouth and throat or bleeding.

Naughty calf with her junior caretaker and steel rod compared to a ballpoint pen

Unfortunately, EEHV reared its head again in Mae Wang when the CMU team was called to see a 4-year-old elephant when the mahout noticed that she was depressed. One young elephant from this camp got sick from an EEHV type 1 infection in April, was treated at the TECC hospital, and went back home in May. The vet performed a physical examination and found the calf already had petechial hemorrhage starting to present on her tongue, mild facial swelling, and a high fever, so the calf was immediately referred to the TECC hospital.

Calf receiving treatment for EEHV

Before the 3-hour trip from Mae Wang to the hospital in Lampang, the calf received antipyretics, Vitamin C, and antiviral drugs. A blood sample was also collected for hematology and EEHV diagnosis. When the truck arrived at the hospital the TECC vet team stood by to start the intensive treatment for her. The next day, results from CMU EEHV lab revealed that she was infected with both EEHV type 1 and 4. Sadly, despite all their efforts, she could not overcome the infection and passed away at 7 p.m.

Thank you to the CMU Veterinary Team for their outstanding commitment to Thailand’s elephants! And thank YOU to all who help support their work through AES!

Training Veterinary Assistants in Myanmar

To address the demand for veterinary assistants specializing in elephant healthcare nation-wide in Myanmar, our field partner the Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) conducted a comprehensive training program over several months.

With the support of AES, this training aimed to provide effective elephant healthcare. Throughout the training, the participants gained extensive practical knowledge and field skills from various sectors.

Professors from the University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, and senior MTE Veterinarians taught courses about parasitology, microbiology, wildlife health management, and husbandry.

Thanks to this training there are now 19 trainees from 19 different areas across the country who can provide medical care and assist Veterinarians who treat over 1500 elephants in rural remote areas, including conflict zones, in Myanmar.

We are grateful for the efforts of the MTE Veterinarians and trainees who care for endangered elephants in Myanmar.

Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic May Update

Sad news this month from Thailand. In the afternoon of May 16, the chief mahout of camp in Mae Wang called our vet about a 3-year-old calf who got facial swelling.  A mahout had noticed that the young male calf presented mild swelling on his jaw but was still acting normally; eating well, sleeping, urinating, and defecating. The CMU team immediately asked the mahout to send pictures and some videos for evaluation. The team rushed to see the calf for a physical evaluation and referred the calf to the TECC hospital for emergency treatment. The calf was depressed. He had mild to moderate facial swelling, especially at both jaws and the area above the eyes. His tongue presented the purple spots consistent with hemorrhaging. He also had a fever and a mild watery diarrhea with quite a bad smell. Many EEHV symptoms were present. At the same time the TECC team was working hard to find suitable blood donors to immediately start a blood transfusion when the calf arrived.

Calf was lethargic upon the team’s arrival

The veterinarians gave an antiviral drug and vitamin C to the elephant. The calf also received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the fever from infection and the inflammatory process. At the hospital he got a platelet-rich plasma transfusion that night. The next day he got a second blood transfusion. The TECC team provided extreme treatment against EEHV. The EEHV test from CMU showed that the calf tested positive for type 1 and 4 co-infection. Unfortunately, he couldn't be saved. He passed away on day 3 of the intensive care.

Veterinarian draws blood to match for plasma donation

This case reminds us just how important our work is and how much fundraisers like Pizza for Pachyderms can help impact the care of elephants in Asia. This little calf’s treatment was funded in part through AES and donations from people like you. We are extremely grateful to the teams from the CMU mobile vet unit and thee TECC for their efforts to treat this calf and others affected by EEHV.

  Thank you to the CMU Veterinary Team for their outstanding commitment to Thailand’s elephants! And thank YOU to all who help support their work through AES!

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic April Update

April was a busy month for the CMU Mobile Vet team! In addition to routine health checks and blood draws there seemed to be many calls concerning wounds of all types this month along with some musculoskeletal concerns.
 
Early in the month the team checked in on two geriatric cows who had not been seen by vets in a couple years. At 50 and 60 years old, both cows were deemed to be in good health and body condition. They received parasite control, tetanus vaccines, and blood work all showed normal conditions. The vets also visited three other elephants for blood work a few days later. And later in the month, the vets visited a small, 5 member herd with a new owner who wanted to ensure the health of all including a 1.5 month old calf. All seemed happy and healthy and the team educated the owner and mahout on preventative care and EEHV. 

Geriatric cow getting a check up

Newest member of the small herd to get a check up

There were several wounds that seemed to be the result of minor interactions. One cow had a small wound with swelling under the eye after being hit inadvertently by her young son’s small tusk, which healed well a few days later. Another case presented an elephant who had knife wounds in the right shoulder area and right rear leg. The vets were able to flush necrotic tissue from the area, removed pus, dressed the wound with instructions on how to continue cleaning and dressing for the mahout. She also received antibiotic treatment and pain medication. On her second follow up they found the wound had dried and closed up. In one wound case, a young elephant at a festival managed to slice her tongue and lip on broken glass. The mahout was able to stem the bleeding and vets later cleaned the wound, administered pain medications and a tetanus shot upon assessing the wound condition. The little cow was still able to eat well and healed up nicely.  

Mom with a swollen eye

Elephant from festival getting tetanus vaccine

In several of the cases involving wound or musculoskeletal issues the vet team was able to use laser therapy to help with inflammation. One 30-year-old female presenting with stiffness in her forelimbs received laser therapy after the CMU team was able to utilize a thermo-scanning camera in order to detect the area of inflammation. In addition to the laser treatment, she also received painkillers and a prescribed hot oil massage. Laser treatment was also used in another case. This female had a history of nail rot and during a recent foot care session 2 new fistula wounds had occurred under the nail. The vets swabbed the wound for bacterial culture and then were able to apply laser therapy using the stick laser probe which was inserted into the holes in the nail.

Using a camera to find inflammation on a thermal scan

Inserting laser probe into nail to treat wound

Thank you to the CMU Veterinary Team for their outstanding commitment to Thailand’s elephants! And thank YOU to all who help support their work through AES!
 

Solar Fencing In India

Our friends at Wildlife Conservation Foundation in India recently sent us an update to their “Community Based Solar Fence to Mitigate Elephant-Human-Wildlife Conflict and Promote Co-existence” project. They have completed the first phase of 2 kilometers (2000 meters) of solar fencing. Solar panel installation, an alternate power source, energizer and testing has also been completed. Soon field staff will be training and passing off fence operations to selected beneficiary families and there may be an additional kilometer of fence that could be built soon!

The New Worry: Metabolic Bone Disease

Living in the wilds of Asia comes with its own risks for calves, there’s the illness we’ve already talked about (EEHV), the risk of injury and infection, the risk of snares and poaching, and there’s a risk of developing a metabolic bone disease from malnutrition. Precious little is known about the composition of an elephant mother’s milk. What we’re finding, though, is that the formulas we use to help calves survive is not meeting all the needs of young calves who weren’t weaned before separation from their mom.

Unfortunately, even if an orphaned calf is rescued and cared for, they’re still not out of the woods. As far as we know, more than half of the rescued orphaned elephants tend to encounter metabolic bone disease as they grow up. This creates immense challenges for those in range countries struggling to help elephants outrun extinction. This complicated condition makes it far more likely a calf will die early due to fatal injuries from typically harmless events or an eventuality of their own bones not being able to support the weight of their bodies as they grow. 

Calf being treated for bone misalignment

Mahouts, owners, veterinarians are banding together to care for these calves in a multitude of ways. Thanks to your contributions teams like the veterinarians with the CMU Mobile Vet Clinic are able to visit calves in need of help. They strive to provide the best care possible for their littlest patients while working hard to find solutions. In March, several attendees participated in a workshop dedicated to learning more about and finding a solution to the issues with current elephant milk replacers.

With your help, we can continue to fight for the survival of even the smallest elephants with quality veterinary care and the hope that the tools they have are best suited to help them grow big and strong.

Attendees of Elephant’s Milk Workshop learning formulas

Orphaned Elephant Calves Update

In 2022, we told you about a calf in Myanmar, born to a mother that was unable to produce milk. Thankfully, another mother elephant had just given birth the month prior and she allowed the new calf to nurse from her along with her own calf. Nursing two calves at once is a feat and a request for assistance was made by the staff at Life in Oozie Village Ecohut (LOVE) to help provide supplemental food for both babies and the nursing mother. AES was quickly able to respond to the request and send the necessary funds to provide milk and other fodder.

For over a year, your contributions were critical to the survival of these two calves (Moe Moe & Phyo Phyo) and the mother caring for them. At the same time, there was another calf in another part of Myanmar that would need help.

On May 14, 2023, there was a strong cyclone, named Mocha, in western Myanmar. A little orphan calf was found that day and thus named after the cyclone. The Elephant Emergency Response Units (EERU) of Aveyrwady Division, where wild elephants reside, found the body of a female elephant, estimated at 25-30 years old, apparently killed by a poison dart. This tiny calf, less than one month old, was found near the female's body and was initially cared for by the EERU team in this area.

Ten days later she was well enough to travel. The EERU Team came to Yangon for a workshop funded by Asian Elephant Support and brought along Mocha.  The little girl made the 5-hour trip in good condition under the EERU team's care. She is now being cared for at that same elephant camp in Yangon, Life in Oozie Village Ecohut (LOVE).

Now, little Mocha is a year old. She is continuing to thrive, but she needs your help more than ever. As the surrounding area continues to experience hardship, Mocha and the other calves cared for at LOVE still need supplemental formula and fodder to keep them growing strong and thriving. We are proud to support the EERU Teams, veterinarians, and other field staff in Myanmar who always have the care and future of Asian elephants as their first priority. 

Mochda today is strong and thriving

Training Future Elephant Veterinarians

For several years we have provided support for veterinary care of elephants in Sumatra along with our veterinary field partner, the Wildlife Ambulance from the Syiah Kuala University Veterinary Faculty in Aceh province.
Wildlife Ambulance activities include seminars on elephant health care conducted for veterinary students. During the first day, classroom lectures are conducted, followed by a day of practical demonstration and training with patrol elephants at the Elephant Conservation Center Saree and the Conservation Response Unit Sampoinet in Aceh.

Topics covered include the following:

* Safety precautions when working with elephants
* Clinical examination in elephants
* Drug administration and sample collection elephants
* Foot care in elephants

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

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic - February

As always, February was a busy month for the CMU Mobile Veterinary Clinic Team. There were a variety of cases to keep the vets on their toes. From very young calves to older individuals and from tummies to toes, there were plenty issues that required the veterinary expertise of the CMU vets.

Early in the month, the team responded to a very young (5 day old) calf with a swollen navel. During the examination by the veterinarian, it was observed that the calf would often use its hindleg to scratch at its navel and that the floor was quite wet from cleanings. Thankfully, the navel was already closed up and so treatment was prescribed along with a recommendation to dry out the ground on which mother and baby were standing. After 5 days, the baby’s navel was doing much better.

Vet trying to examine baby’s navel

There were three different cases with gastrointestinal symptoms. One adult female was colicky and was eventually made comfortable. A younger, 13-year-old cow presented as anxious, thin, and eating soil. She was discovered to be infected with parasites. The day after treatment she was better. And an older, 38-year-old female was depressed and sleepy looking. Only slight improvement after treatment prompted the vets to suggest she be taken to the hospital for closer treatment options.

Physical exam of colicky female

A 2.5-year-old calf required quick examination after presenting with symptoms that could be consistent with EEHV. The vets took blood for testing, provided preventative treatments, and suggested keeping the calf away from the other mother and calf living with the sick calf. The following morning the owner reported the calf was much improved and so EEHV was no longer suspected.

Blood testing to rule out EEHV

Finally, there were also a couple of musculoskeletal cases. One was a 50-year-old cow with the entire hind limb swollen, unable to bend, and stiff upon walking. The team treated her with laser acupuncture therapy and soaks. Over a period of 20 days there was improvement but she was still not fully able to bend the knee. There were also a couple cases of nail splits. A young calf had a split nail that the vets attempted to trim up, but due to the calf’s young age did not stand well for the process. She was given meds for inflammation and pain. The last case was an abscess which developed behind the nail of an older female. The foot was thoroughly cleaned and the surrounding nail and cuticle was trimmed to allow the foot to heal. Further foot care will be required to fully heal the injury.

Thank you to the CMU Veterinary Team for their outstanding commitment to Thailand’s elephants! And thank YOU to all who help support their work through AES!

Following the Wildlife Ambulance Veterinary Team in Sumatra

We are pleased to provide support for veterinary care of elephants and other wildlife in Sumatra along with our veterinary field partner, the Wildlife Ambulance from the Syiah Kuala University Veterinary Faculty in Aceh province.
 
The Wildlife Ambulance veterinary team spends many hours on the road to reach elephant and other wildlife patients. Recently the Wildlife Ambulance assisted the Aceh provincial conservation agency BKSDA with the rescue and release of a trapped Sun Bear. The adult female Sun Bear was trapped with its right front paw in an illegal rope snare. The animal was sedated and the rope snare was removed. Antiseptic and antibiotic wound treatments were applied locally and systemic antibiotics and analgesics were administered. 

Treatment of a rescued Sun Bear

Due to the fact that this case was quickly reported by local people and the bear received immediate medical attention, the snare had not yet caused irreversible damage to the paw of the bear. Therefore, after the treatment and reversal of the sedation the bear was transported to a nearby forest area and released back into the forest.

Removing a snare from a bear paw

During the past six months, the Wildlife Ambulance Veterinarians conducted over 50 field missions for routine elephant health care, emergency treatments, wildlife rescues, and assisted with postmortem examinations on elephants and other wildlife. Routine health care is provided to more than 70 camp elephants in 12 different locations in the provinces Aceh and Lampung.
 
The Veterinarians also assisted conservation activities such as fitting Satellite GPS collars on wild elephants, wild elephant and sun bear rescues and treatment, as well as supporting rescue and release operations of different primate and bird species in collaboration with other conservation organizations and government agencies.
 
We are grateful for the efforts of the Veterinarians of the Wildlife Ambulance and the Elephant Response Unit field staff who work tirelessly to provide medical care for critically endangered Sumatran elephants and other wildlife. You can help Sumatran elephants and wildlife by donating today! CLICK HERE to donate.

(Left to Right): Banana Fodder, Pineapple meds, and primate exam

Myanmar Emergency Elephant Response Units Rescue Snare Victim

Across Asia, illegal snares set to trap animals cause severe injuries, even death, to many species including elephants.

Rescued elephant being escorted to camp

Recently, the Myanmar Emergency Elephant Response Unit (EERU) in Ayeyarwaddy region found a young wild elephant whose front leg was seriously injured after being caught in an illegal snare. The EERU team safely rescued the elephant and brought it to camp for treatment. The elephant is now under the expert care of EERU Veterinarians and staff.

Treatment of the seriously injured leg

We are so grateful for the efforts of the EERU Veterinarians and staff in Myanmar who work tirelessly to provide care for endangered Asian elephants. Thank you to all partners!
With YOUR HELP we can support emergency responses and rescues by contributing to veterinary care and supplemental food for these rescued elephants.

Community Fencing near Bandipur National Park, India

Since 2021, AES has supported a project to set up a community power fence for farmers living adjacent to Bandipur National Park in India. This project was implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Foundation.

Battery pack and fencing to protect farm crops

This farming community near Bandipur National Park is now able to successfully harvest their crops because elephants in the area no longer raid due to the fencing. Helping local communities protect their crops develops increased tolerance of wildlife. Since this project started, there have been no elephant deaths due to electrocution and no human deaths due to elephants reported.

Beneficiaries of the community fencing

Due to the success of this project and commitment of the local communities, another round of funding for this project was recently approved. Thanks to the efforts of the Wildlife Conservation Foundation and your support farmers in Bandipur, India are finding better ways to coexist with elephants.

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Update - January

January kept the veterinary team of the Chiang Mai University Mobile Vet Clinic busy, as usual. With the help of three other agencies, they completed the annual census of elephants in the Chiang Mai region (nearly 850 elephants). During the census the teams also collected blood, monitored for diseases, and administered de-worming medications as needed.

The census teams assessing elephants and collecting blood

Throughout the month acute cases also required the attention of the CMU vet team. There was a sudden elephant death requiring investigation, a couple of musculoskeletal issues, some parasitic cases and vaccinations, and an irritated eye.

Vets getting measurements on a calf with abnormal gait issues

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Updates - December 2023

December was a busy month. Not only did the CMU vets stay busy with cases, but there was also lots of collaboration with other groups. From the 10th – 13th of the month Dr. Paan along with Associate Professor Dr. Chatchote Thitaram, the Director, and Dr. Janine Brown of the Smithsonian Institute visited the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Sayaboury, Lao PDR. They observed two sets of mothers with their calves along with a male bachelor group and were also able to help support glaucoma care for an ECC patient in addition to seeing their management and target training. It was a valuable exchange of time and resources.

Then from the 21st-22nd the CMU vets along with the staff from the TECC hosted veterinary students from Ohio State University. They discussed management and treatment of geriatric elephants, tourism elephants, musth elephants, and free roaming elephants.  They also got to practice exams and medical treatments on elephants at the TECC under the supervision of professional veterinarians.

Elephant cases for the month had a variety of causes and symptoms. A bull with his tusk cracked got x-rays. The vets followed up on a cow who had been receiving a series of laser light treatments for lameness. They found her gait had corrected and there was no neurological impairment. The vets rushed immediately to a two-month-old calf who had a swollen cheek and resided in an area near where another calf was lost to EEHV recently. Upon arriving the veterinarian found the calf alert and the mahout reported that the calf had fallen and hit its head the day before. The calf was prescribed a steroid cream to help with inflammation and edema. Another adult female was treated with laser therapy for lameness in both forelimbs and is recovering. There was a follow-up tetanus vaccination and, finally, a 35-year-old female with a split toe nail who was seen by vets with her 10-month old calf clinging to her side. Due to an old injury on one front foot, the cow spent all her time with the majority of her weight resting on the other foot. This caused the malformation of her nails which then were cracked and overgrown and, eventually, infected. She was treated to a nail trimming and rasping along with a series of foot soaks and her own tetanus shot.

Bull group at ECC playing together

Veterinary students learn about tourism elephants

Bulls getting tusk X-ray

Foot soak prep for mom’s nail and pad trimming