Sumatran elephant ex-situ breeding and health care program
Partner:
Veterinary Society for Sumatran Wildlife Conservation (VESSWIC)
African Lion Safari
Location:
Sumatra (Indonesia)
Aims:
The Sumatran government decided in 1985 to capture wild elephants conflicting with human settlements and crops. The caught animals were managed in governmental elephant training centres, however many of them died due to capture wounds, dietetic and hygienic and animal welfare problems. Fortunately, the captures were abandoned in 2000. But there is still a number of about 600 elephants that live in these governmental managed camps. To improve housing, care and husbandry, as well as to integrate the captive elephants for conservation purposes, the Veterinary Society for Sumatran Wildlife Conservation (VESSWIC) initiated an elephant healthcare program. Due to the great improvements achieved through VESSWIC, the elephants have started to reproduce. To encourage the good veterinary service, breeding efforts of these endangered animals and the proper care of pregnant females, the introduction of ultrasonography is an important next step. GEOlifes together with ALS plan to take part in the education of the veterinarians to apply ultrasound for pregnancy determination, ovarian activity control and the birthing process.
For more information: info@geolifes.com