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

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

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.