Giants on Our Hands: Proceedings of the International Workshop on the Domesticated Asian Elephant


BANGKOK, THAILAND
5 TO 10 FEBRUARY 2001

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Bankok, Thailand

RAP publication: 2002/03

Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund
Japan Wildlife Research Center

Edited by: Iljas Baker and Masakazu Kashio
ISBN: 974-90757-1-4

Table of Contents


Cover: Procession in an elephant show at the Thai ElephantConservation Center, Lampang. Thailand, February 2001.

The designations and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or of its frontiers or boundaries.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO.

The photo credits given below are by page number in order of appearance. Copyright in all cases remains with the photographers, to whom FAO wishes to extend its thanks for their generous permission to reproduce their work.

Masakazu Kashio:

Cover page, iii, 14 (lower), 102, 156, 172

Makoto Komoda:

ix, 14 (upper), 16

Sawai Wanghongsa:

34

Richard Lair:

66

Sam Fang:

78, 182

Jacob V. Cheeran:

222

Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand:

230

Thai Animal Guardians Association:

238

© FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 2002

Printed by: Dharmasarn Co., Ltd.

For copies write to:
Forest Resources Officer
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Mansion
Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200
Thailand
E-mail: [email protected]

A royal white elephant of Thailand


Table of Contents


Foreword

Acknowledgements

Opening address

R.B. Singh

Welcome addresses

Toshihiro Arai
Manoonsak Tuntiwiwut

Opening remarks

Masakazu Kashio

Keynote address

A regional overview of the need for registration of domesticated Asian elephants - Richard Lair

Part I: Record of discussions

Summary of the International Workshop on the Domesticated Asian Elephant - Masakazu Kashio
Group reports

Group 1: Socio-economic issues
Group 2: Suggestions for a model law for domesticated elephants
Group 3: Domesticated elephant registration
Group 4: Framework for co-operation and networking

Part II: Country studies

A study of street wandering elephants in Bangkok and the socio-economic life of their mahouts - Viroj Pimmanrojnagool and Sawai Wanghongsa
The care and management of domesticated Asian elephants in Sri Lanka - Jayantha Jayewardene
The care and management of domesticated elephants in Sumatra, Indonesia - Baringin Hutadjulu and Ramon Janis
The status of Bangladesh's captive elephants - Md. Anwarul Islam
The status, distribution and management of the domesticated Asian elephant in Cambodia - Chheang Dany, Hunter Weiler, Kuy Tong and Sam Han
The care and management of the domesticated Asian elephant in Myanmar - U Tun Aung and U Thoung Nyunt
The challenge of managing domesticated Asian elephants in Nepal - Fanindra R. Kharel
The present status and management of domesticated Asian elephants in Viet Nam - Trinh Viet Cuong, Tran The Lien and Pham Mong Giao
The domesticated Asian elephant in India - S.S. Bist, J.V. Cheeran, S. Choudhury, P. Barua and M.K. Misra
The care and management of domesticated elephants in Malaysia - Mohd. Shariff Daim
Elephants and ecotourism in Thailand - Prasob Tipprasert
The care and management of domesticated Asian elephants in Lao PDR - Bounleuam Norachack

Part III: Thematic papers

Management of Sumatran elephants in Indonesia: Problems and challenges - Bambang Suprayogi, Jito Sugardjito and Ronald P.H. Lilley
The studbook of timber elephants of Myanmar with special reference to survivorship analysis - Khyne U Mar
Comparison of serum chemistry values and serum mineral values between captive and free-ranging elephants in Thailand - D. Tuntasuvan, A. Theeraphan, N. Phoengpong, W. Jitnupongand G. Lungka
Tranquillization and translocation of captive bulls - Jacob V. Cheeran, K.C. Panicker, R.K. Kaimal and P.B. Giridas
The role of private organizations in elephant conservation - Soraida Salwala
The role of NGOs in the management of domesticated elephants in Thailand - Parntep Ratanakorn
The elephant situation in Thailand and a plea for co-operation - Roger Lohanan
An assessment of the work of the mobile elephant clinic based in Lampang, Thailand - Bjarne Clausen
The Asian Elephant Conservation Act, the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, and the conservation of the wild and the domesticated Asian elephant - Karl A. K. Stromayer
General care and reproductive management of pregnant and infant elephants at the Ayutthaya Elephant Camp - Puttipong Khawnual and Brian Clarke

Part IV: Annexes

Annex 1: Agenda and timetable
Annex 2: List of participants