AES Attends the 19th International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium

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)

Hands-On Laboratory Training in Wildlife Disease Investigation

Workshop participants in Nepal

AES has long supported wildlife veterinary work in Asia. In November, Asian Elephant Support was proud to support two weeklong workshops. The Hands-On Laboratory Training in Wildlife Disease Investigation workshop was held in two locations. The first training was held at the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Nepal Wildlife Hospital in Chitwan National Park under the guidance of Dr. Amir Sadaula. Attendance consisted of wildlife veterinarians from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The second training was held at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, India, under the guidance of Dr. Arun Zachariah. This session hosted wildlife veterinarians from India, Lao PDR, and Sri Lanka. Laboratory work is an extremely important component of identifying and monitoring diseases, as well as for use in wildlife crime forensics. These trainings offered new opportunities for wildlife veterinarians to share experiences and learn new techniques.  

We are grateful to our Nepal partner, Ntnc Bcc, our India partners, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Living In Fine Environment Trust-India, for their assistance in organizing and hosting the trainings, and to the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund of USFWS International Affairs for support. And a very big thank you to AES consultant, Heidi Riddle, for her contributions to these two events!

AES Consultant, Heidi Riddle, along with other workshop participants in India

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Updates - November 2023

November was a very busy month for the CMU Team. It was a month of excitement, highs, and sadly, some hard lows. It’s months like these that exemplify exactly why the CMU veterinarians and the Mobile Vet program are so invaluable to the elephants and surrounding communities.

In addition to all their usual responsibilities the CMU team was also quite involved in preparations for and hosting of the 5th Asian EEHV Working Group Meeting and the 19th International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium. The meeting and symposium ran back-to-back over five days in the middle of the month and was a huge success!

The November cases consisted of several cases involving youngsters. One little 7-month-old female presented with lameness in her front right leg which she was dragging as she walked. The vet team tentatively diagnosed her a radial nerve injury which could have caused the dragging. They then gave her analgesia, anti-inflammatory meds, laser therapy, and recommended acupuncture to help with her neuromuscular movement.

Calf receiving laser therapy on her stiff leg

Two other young calves presented with eye issues during the month. At the beginning of the month a 7-month-old little bull had swollen eyes with a laceration. After the vets were able to examine the calf and observed flies gathering near his eyes and the calf itching them repeatedly, they were able to rule out EEHV as a cause and suspected allergies. It took a couple follow-up visits throughout the month to discover a bacterial infection in the laceration that might have been contributing. The owners were instructed on how to rinse his eyes and apply antibiotic treatment. Later in the month, an 18-month-old calf also in the Mae Wang region was seen for lacrimation (excessive tears). The vets recommended an eye rinse for her one to two times a day to help wash away dust, dirt, and other possible irritants.

(Left) Calf with blepharitis (inflammation of eyelids) in both eyes. (Right) Other calf had lacrimation (excessive tears) in both eyes

Unfortunately, November also brought some difficult cases. On the morning of November 9th, a Mae Tang camp owner called for help concerning 8 elephants with colic ranging from moderate to severe. They had all eaten from the same plot of grasses. Another vet from the TEAA was asked to aid in the emergency response. They started fluid therapy in 5 elephants and provided supportive drugs including an anti-inflammatory, opioid, anti-gastric acid secretion, and vitamins. Two elephants were considered severe and transported to the hospital for more intensive care. The elephants at the camp continued treatment through the night and some got better, but the following morning two of them were sent to the team at the hospital at the TECC. In the end most of the elephants recovered with the constant care and intensive treatments, but two elephants died, one from intestinal torsion and the other from sepsis.

Obvious bulging sides of cow experiencing colic

The vets were called out for the necropsy and sample collection of a six-year-old calf in Mae Tang who had been depressed and not eating just the day before and died suddenly that morning of the 22nd. His death was attributed to EEHV 4 and is the first of the season in that region. The vets visited the rest of the young calves in the camp and all non-pregnant and weaned calves were given antihelminth and vitamin C. The veterinarian gave suggestions for management to the owner and the mahouts were educated about the importance of vigilant observation (especially of the young calves) for the detection of EEHV.
 
To wrap the month up Dr. Paan teamed up with several other vets to collect whole blood that was to be donated by a healthy female elephant. Thanks to the Mae Tang Elephant Camp the team of vets were able to collect 19 bags of 450mL of whole blood from a cow named Kam Noi. Whole blood donations are a very important component of treating seriously ill elephant patients with a myriad of conditions, including EEHV. These bags of donated blood can be spun down into plasma and then kept cold for the next several months and ready to use in the next critical case.

The veterinarian team for blood collection including: vets from CMU, a vet from Mae Tang camp, a vet from TEAA, and a vet from Lao PDR (internship) along with donor, Kam Noi

To support the work of the CMU Veterinary Team as they
provide life-saving health care to Northern Thailand’s elephants, please visit www.asianelephantsupport.org to make a donation. 

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Updates - October 2023

Dr. Paan and the team were busy during October again, visiting elephants in Mae Wang, Mae Tang, Mae Rim and Hang Dong districts of Northern Thailand. October’s cases were mainly made up of wound care, mild lameness, lameness caused by a wound, and a dental visit thrown in to mix things up. 
 
A female elephant in Mae Wang had a pre-existing tail injury which the doctors returned to check on in October. Upon examination, it was noted that the tail was not healing as well as could be hoped. The tip of the tail had become necrotic and as the tissue was being cleaned away a piece of bone was visible through the tissue and pus present. The necrotic tip had to be removed all together. Two weeks later at her follow up appointment, the cow’s tail had recovered quite nicely with no more pus or necrosis. It is expected to heal completely. 

A piece of tailbone protruded from the wound

Another highlight was the CMU vets visiting a male elephant in Mae Tang who was stiff on his right front leg. The vet at the camp where the tusker resided had requested the CMU team bring their laser therapy equipment, which they did on October 10. About a week earlier, the mahout had noticed a small swollen nodule on that leg, and now the elephant was stiff. The vets determined that this nodule would eventually turn into an abscess, so quick treatment was necessary. Using the thermal scanner, the team was able to determine where other areas of swelling and inflammation were located on the leg. Luckily, there weren’t any other areas of inflammation found on that leg, so the vets decided to start laser therapy on the nodule to
stimulate the cells and  relieve some pain for the elephant. Another laser treatment was done a week later, but by that time the abscess had burst. However, after the second round of laser therapy, the elephant was walking normally, and seemed to be in less pain.

Dr. Pann applying laser therapy to an abscess causing pain and lameness

Later in the month, the team went to Mae Rim to perform some traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, on an eight-year-old female elephant that the vets were following up with who was suffering from lameness. The team couldn’t perform the acupuncture with needles, since the elephant
wouldn’t stand still, so they went to plan B and used laser acupuncture. Due to the high power and heat coming from the acupuncture machine, the elephant was a little frustrated, however, the vets finished the procedure within 5-10  minutes. Laser therapy was also performed on the lame area for further treatment. The team will perform the laser acupuncture 1 time per week for a total of 6 weeks. 

CMU Vet applying laser acupuncture technique with help of guest expert

To support Dr. Paan and the CMU Veterinary Team as they provide life-saving health care to Northern Thailand’s elephants, please visit www.asianelephantsupport.org to make a donation.

CMU Mobile Vet Clinic Updates - September 2023

Dr. Eye and the CMU team were back at it again throughout September. The first week of the month saw the vets joining forces with Thai Elephant Alliance and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) to conduct health checks for elephants in the Mae Chaem and Mae Wang areas. Twenty elephants from four different villages were seen by the vets. These checks were a part of the annual National Elephant Institute elephant health service initiative.

Elephants in the Mae Wang region turn out for vet checkups

During their time in Mae Wang, they also treated a 15-year-old pregnant elephant who was suffering from diarrhea. The vets were able to determine the cause and prescribed de-worming medication. After learning the mahout and owner’s concern for the unborn calf was the reason they had ceased to give the cow antiparasitic drugs, they were able to educate the owners explaining they are safe to use and better for mom and baby in the long run. The pregnant elephant started recovering within 24 hours.

CMU mobile unit with vets from CMU, TECC, TEA and a private vet

Later in the month, the team visited a 21-year-old male elephant in San Kham Pang who was presenting with colic and hadn’t passed a fecal since the previous day. The owner of the elephant told the vet team that the male elephant was acting lethargic, standing still, and lifting his hindlimbs, which is a sign of abdominal discomfort. He also was not eating or drinking well. The team started the male on GI stimulating medications and administering fluids, and eventually administered a rectal enema and walked the elephant to stimulate better movement in the intestinal muscles. Treatments were stopped in the evening of that day, to let the team and the elephant rest. Unfortunately, no feces were produced, and treatments resumed the following morning. After 48 hours of no fecal production, it was feared there was something more serious than colic that was affecting the elephant. The elephant owners decided to send the elephant to TECC. Fortunately, the elephant was able to finally pass feces, and started eating and drinking normally after a day at the hospital. After a week stay at the hospital, he was cleared to return home.

Bull receiving enema treatment for severe colic

Heading back to Mae Wang, Dr. Eye’s team visited a 34-year-old female elephant who was stiff in her hind legs. Upon examination, the vet decided to administer an anti-inflammatory shot. However, due to the elephant being obese, it was hard for the team to determine where the stiffness was originating. The team then decided to use the thermal camera to pinpoint if there was a lesion and where it was located. The camera revealed there was a lesion on her left hind limb, and it was recommended that the owner let the elephant rest while she heals. Furthermore, they suggested warm water treatments, topical pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Thermal imaging helps diagnose injury on hind leg

To support Dr. Eye and her CMU veterinary team as they provide life-saving health care to Northern Thailand’s elephants, please visit www.asianelephantsupport.org to make a donation. 

EEHV Working Group Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Presenters and attendees at 5th Asian EEHV Working Group Meeting

The 5th Asian EEHV Working Group Meeting 2023, was held at Chiang Mai University, on November 13. This event gathered around 70 people from many countries around the world. Sixteen presenters were country representatives who updated attendees about the EEHV situation in each region with the number of cases, the availability of laboratory spaces and equipment, and the gaps and needs of their region’s efforts to combat EEHV. Some of them still need a budget to set up their laboratories. However, this event was a great opportunity for connection and collaboration among EEHV researchers and practitioners. In addition, there were interesting presentations from subject matter experts updating on diagnosis and treatment, updates on immune response, and advancements in vaccine development (which many participants were eager to hear about). In addition to the individual presentations, there was a group session for brainstorming on the topics of diagnosis, treatment, and research in order to exchange knowledge and share discoveries. AES is grateful that the elephant community had such a wonderful opportunity for participants to meet with each other to collaborate against EEHV, a devastating obstacle in the way of elephant conservation.