Implementation of Regular Veterinary Care for Captive Sumatran Elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus)

Abstract

As a result of capturing elephants from the wild in order to reduce human elephant conflicts during the period between 1985 and 2000, today there are about 600 captive elephants throughout Sumatra (Lair 1997; PHKA 2006). These elephants are kept in about 320 government run Elephant Training Centres (ETC), zoos, recreation and safari parks, and timber companies. Due to a lack of funds, a lack of dedicated and experienced camp managers and veterinarians, and a lack of ideas about how to integrate captive elephants in a conservation strategy, in most locations this captive population lacks sufficient maintenance, health and welfare management, resulting in poor health conditions and losses (Lair 1997; Lewis 1998; IEF 2001; Suprayogi at al. 2001; PHKA 2006).