Elephant Landmine Victims

Over the past decades, the Foundation has accommodated many cases of elephant landmine victims. These cases fall into two categories: 1.) elephant patients delivered to FAE Elephant Hospital for treatment; 2.) elephants treated by their owners in their places of residence.

Since 1993 when the Foundation was set up, we have treated a total of 15 cases of landmine victims. Of these 15 cases, eight were properly healed and officially discharged for their owners to take back home. Two cases, specifically Mosha and Motala, were donated to Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation; these two elephants have remained here at FAE Elephant Hospital as permanent residents. One case, specifically Boonmee, was rescued by the Foundation, and the elephant has also remained here as a permanent resident.

There were four cases of landmine victims that passed away. Three failed to respond to treatment; and veterinary decisions had to be made to put those elephant patients to sleep eternally and in peace. One passed away of unknown causes; this is a case of a patient that suffered from bloat and died suddenly.

There are standard practices applied consistently in the treatment of all landmine victims here at FAE Elephant Hospital. Control measures are put in place to help prevent further infection through the administration of antibiotics. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications are also administered.

The elephant’s wound is treated with footbaths in the morning and late afternoon. Disinfectant is used to cleanse the wound, followed by the application of insecticide powder. Tetanus antitoxin is used to prevent tetanus, since the landmine injury suffers a high level of risk. This tetanus antitoxin is injected into the wound site.

To prevent infection within the infirmary unit occupied by the landmine victim, control measures are put in place in the enclosure, the site of care and treatment which is cleaned with disinfectant daily, morning and late afternoon. Containers of disinfectant are prepared for the vets, keepers, and mahouts assigned to the care and treatment of the elephant patient. These are the people in the immediate care team who must soak their feet in disinfectant upon entering and exiting the enclosure.

Vitamins are administered for the elephant patient to nourish the body and blood.

The factors contributing to healing depend entirely upon the elephant patient in question and the external conditions that come together to influence the process. The first contributing factor has to do with the elephant’s age. A young elephant stands a higher chance of healing at a faster rate and with greater efficiency, while an older elephant takes longer to heal. Secondly, a healthier elephant heals better and faster, while an unhealthy elephant heals more slowly. Thirdly, the more aggressive the elephant, the more difficult the treatment process becomes, since treatment depends upon the capacity to keep the elephant under proper control and supervision. Elephants with a friendly personality and temperament are more accepting of treatment procedures. And, therefore, these friendly and accommodating elephants heal better and faster.

External conditions include the prevention of infection and consistency of treatment procedures. If there is inconsistency and irregularity in the way treatment is administered, then there is a higher risk of infection. And, as a consequence, the condition of the wound will worsen through these instances of inadequate care.