
Hand-raising Orphan Asian Elephants
A Practical Guidebook
For Asian Elephant
Range Country Care Providers
Why we developed this guidebook
How elephant calves become orphans
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There are many reasons that elephant calves become orphans. Accidents or natural disasters such as flooding may result in the death of the mother. Weak calves may become separated from the herd or may be abandoned. Calves may fall into wells, ditches, or canals, or become entangled in a snare. (Read more in Chapter 1).
Elephant calf mortality
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What is reported in literature (needs editing)
Why this manual is needed
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Hand-raising orphan elephants is challenging, especially if they have been injured. Even facilities with experience are not always successful. To date there is no comprehensive resource to provide practical and science-based information on how to care for orphan elephant calves.
We have created a practical guide for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, mahouts, caregivers, and anyone else involved with elephant hand-rearing. Because we hope to reach a broad audience, we have tried to use clear and succinct language and have defined medical terms that may not be familiar to all.
We welcome feedback and will update this Guidebook as new information becomes available.
Contributors & Reviewers
Dr. Susan K. Mikota - Veterinarian
Director of Veterinary Programs and Research, Elephant Care International
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Dr. Willem Schaftenaar - Veterinarian
Veterinary advisor to the Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (Europe)
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Dr. B. Vijitha Perera - Veterinarian
Elephant Transit Home, Sri Lanka
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Dr. Ellen Dierenfeld
Member, American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Nutrition Advisory Group and President, Comparative Nutrition Society (Read more)
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Production & Fundraising Support
Hollis Burbank-Hammarlund
Founder/Director, Work for Wild Life International (Read more)
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Funding Generously Provided By
Dr. Betsy Coville - Veterinarian
Coville-Triest Family Foundation
Chapter 7:
Growth & Development

Chapter 8:
Social Needs & Behavior

Chapter 9:
Medical Problems & Treatment
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Chapter 10:
Medical Procedures

Other Resources
Chapter 11:
Training for Veterinary Procedures

Appendices
Chapter 12:
Guidelines for Release to the Wild

Acknowledgments
Have a question about
baby elephants?
Need some help?
Have a case study to share?
Chapter 4:
Feeding Milk

Chapter 5:
Digestive Physiology / Gut Flora

Chapter 6:
Feeding / Introducing Solid Foods

Susan Mikota DVM
Elephant Care International
166 Limo View Lane
Hohenwald, TN 38462
USA
Telephone (USA): 931 - 628-1979 or 931-3
Email: smikota@elephantcare.org
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