India: Elephant Healthcare Project

Health Assessment of Captive Asian Elephants in India with Special Reference to Tuberculosis

Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore, India, is undertaking a major project for providing preventive healthcare to nearly 800 captive elephants in India over a period of one year. Apart from evaluation of general health status of individual elephants, the project envisages screening the captive elephant population for major infectious diseases with special reference to tuberculosis. The project also aims to support field veterinarians by providing access to the latest disease diagnostic techniques, which will help them give better treatment to the elephants.

The field work will be done by an all-India team of veterinary professionals (Prof. Dr. Jacob V. Cheeran and Dr. David Abraham) and conducted under the auspices of Prof. R. Sukumar Ph.D. and the Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre (a division of Asian Nature Conservation Foundation). 

The support and participation of many other institutions in India is making this important project possible.  These include Project Elephant (Government of India, New Delhi), National Tuberculosis Institute (Bangalore), Elephant Welfare Association (Thrissur), and Elephant Study Centre (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur).

Dr. Susan Mikota of Elephant Care International and other associates are providing technical advice.

This project is funded by Elephant Care International.  Additional financial support is being provided by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) of Bangalore, India with support from World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund has generously provided grant
funds of $10,000 towards the completion of this important project.

See also:
Tuberculosis in Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive reference list on TB in elephants
ECI Elephant TB Initiative - a PDF Brochure
Elephant Care International: TB Initiative Presented at the 2007 meeting of Zoos and Aquariums Committed to Conservation
TB: Implications for Elephant Management in Asia Presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians