Quite possibly the biggest elephant event since the beginning of the pandemic, the 19th International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium, was held at the Empress Convention Center, Chiang Mai, Thailand November 14th-17th, 2023. This massive convention hosted by the Center of Elephant and Wildlife Health Chiang Mai University in collaboration with the International Elephant Foundation, Kasetsart University, and the National Elephant Institute was also supported in part by Asian Elephant Support.
Opening ceremony for the 19th International Conservation and Research Symposium, Chiang Mai 2023
More than 205 participants representing over 20 different countries from around the world traveled to Chiang Mai to attend the symposium. Nearly 113 oral presentation titles were presented speaking on a variety of studies and research associated with both African and Asian elephant conservation. There were a number of topics consisting of the Care for elephants, Elephant Behavior, Management of Elephants in Human Care, Elephant Genetics, EEHV, Wild Elephant Populations, Habitat and Human Development, Elephant Protection Initiatives, Human-Elephant Conflict, Elephant Nutrition, and Elephant Physiology and Veterinary Management.
Left: Asian Elephant Support director, Lindsey Eagan, presenting.
Right: AES director and President, Lindsey Eagan and Linda Reifschneider
AES’s own president, Linda Reifschneider, and director, Lindsey Eagan, traveled to Chiang Mai to present on the diversity of projects supported over the last few years and to express our gratitude to the elephant community at large for their efforts in the field, in the laboratory, and in conservation. We were proud to be able to sponsor the travel of several attendees in order to present their own papers and to have the opportunity to make connections with other global elephant professionals. Sponsored travel was made possible for Dr. Bhupen Sarma (India), Rengasamy Marimuthu (India), Lauren Howard (USA), Dr. Firdaus (Sumatra), Dr. Zaw Min Oo (Myanmar), Dr. B. Vijitha Perera (Sri Lanka), and Chandima Fernando (Sri Lanka
Pictured above with AES (from Left to Right): Dr. Bhupen Sarma (India), Ashok Kumar Ram (Nepal) with Rengasamy Marimuthu (India), Lauren Howard (USA), and Dr. Sayuti with Dr. Stremme & Dr. Firdaus (Sumatra).
Pictured abovewith AES (from Left to Right): Dr. Zaw Min Oo (Myanmar), Dr. B. Vijitha Perera (Sri Lanka), and Chinthaka Weerasinghe with Ravi Corea & Chandima Fernando (Sri Lanka).
And, of course, the symposium offered the opportunity for AES to connect with other project partners and friends from near and far. We were thrilled to share a week full of greetings, new and old connections, stories, laughter, smiles, hugs, and even a few tears with such a wonderful global community! Thank you to the International Elephant Foundation for another lovely event!
Pictured above with AES (from Left to Right): Gilles Mauer (Lao PDR), Lisa Abegglen- Maura Davis- Lauren Howard- Natalie Rourke- Lindsey Eagan- Rachel Emory- Christine Holter- Linda Reifschneider- Amber Alink (USA),Sabie Iwin (Myanmar)
Pictured above with AES (from Left to Right): Ekkaxay Inthalacsa (Lao PDR), Dr. Janine Brown & Dr. Sharon Glaeser with Amber Alink (USA) and A.I. (bull-TECC), and Khounboline (Lao PDR) with Dr. Prajna Paramita Panda (IUCN, India)