Sumatra Veterinary Medicine Seminar

Near the end of 2024, our partners in Sumatra conducted multiple 2-day seminars on elephant health care for students in their final year of veterinary school. Classroom lectures were conducted on the first day, while the second day consisted of hands-on practical demonstrations. The veterinary students were able to practice what they have learned on patrol elephants from the Saree elephant camp in Aceh Besar regency and CRU (Conservation Response Unit) Sampoinet camp in Aceh Jaya regency. The workshops focused on teaching the veterinary students safety precautions when working with elephants, clinical examinations, drug administration, sample collection, and foot care.

Students learned both in lectures and hands-on setting

We are grateful for our partners in Sumatra, Indonesia who are dedicated to educating future generations of wildlife veterinarians. Help us continue to support this important training by becoming a monthly donor today at www.asianelephantsupport.org/donate

Update! Rescued baby Sumatran elephant

A few months ago, we shared information that our field partners in Sumatra, the Veterinarians from the Wildlife Ambulance, were asked to provide veterinary expertise for the treatment and rescue of an abandoned sick wild elephant calf in Aceh province.

A herd of elephants had raided agricultural crops where farmers had a small storage hut for equipment and fertilizers. The elephants destroyed some of the bags of fertilizer. It appeared that the calf had likely consumed some of the fertilizer causing severe gastrointestinal illness.  The calf had rubbed his eyes with its fertilizer contaminated trunk causing significant eye inflammation and corneal ulcers. While stumbling around blind, the calf also sustained some abrasive wounds on his body.  The calf was unable to follow the herd and needed intense treatment, so the decision was made to rescue the calf and bring it to camp for treatment and monitoring.

The calf, named Gary, is now doing very well and has recovered from the abrasive wounds. He is blind in one eye but has adapted well to slightly diminished eyesight.

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

Calf, Gary, with eye injury. And Gary adapting well to his visual impairment

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Veterinary Care for Sumatra's Elephants

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.

The Wildlife Ambulance Veterinarians provide routine health care to the camp elephants in Aceh. These health checks include weighing each elephant regularly, assessing body condition, and providing needed treatments.

These visits also serve as a training opportunity for veterinary students who assist in examining the elephants and collecting samples.

Veterinary students training with a staff of the Wildlife Ambulance