Elephant Aid International

Tag: natural behavior

  • Report: Chain-Free Project, National Trust for Nature Conservation — Biodiversity Conservation Center

    Report: Chain-Free Project, National Trust for Nature Conservation — Biodiversity Conservation Center

    Chain-Free Hattisar Project
    National Trust for Nature Conservation – Biodiversity Conservation Center
    Chitwan, Nepal

    REPORT

    Project completed Jan 10, 2013

     Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
    Jhamak Karki, Chief Warden-Chitwan National Park
    Dr. Kamal Gairhe, Senior Wildlife Veterinarian-Chitwan National Park

    National Trust for Nature Conservation
    Naresh Subedi, Senior Conservation Officer
    Chiranjibi Pd. Pokheral, Senior Conservation Officer-Biodiversity Conservation Center
    Babu Ram Lamichhane, Conservation Officer-Biodiversity Conservation Center
    Dr. Arjun Pandit, Staff Veterinarian- Biodiversity Conservation Center

    In collaboration with

    Elephant Aid international-USA
    Carol Buckley, Founder and CEO

    INTRODUCTION

    In January 2013, construction was completed on a solar-powered chain-free hattisar at the National Trust for Nature Conservation’s Biodiversity Conservation Center (NTNC-BCC).

    This first-of-its-kind pilot project was developed to study the benefits of working elephants in Nepal living chain-free.

    Six elephants, ranging from seven months to seventy-plus years, currently live in five interconnected chain-free corrals designed to improve their welfare.

    The elephants spend an average of fifteen hours in the hattisar each day. In the past they were hobbled by both front legs, chained under a shelter that prevented natural posturing and healthy physical activity.

    Now, living in the chain-free corral, each elephant is free to move at will and engage in natural behavior such as dusting, foraging, sleeping, bathing, walking, playing. In the case of Man Kali and her children, eight-year-old daughter Prakriti Kali and seven-month-old son Hem Gaj, this related family is able to engage in normal social behavior.

    Corral construction and operating system

    The corral’s operating system is a solar-powered energizer with a double battery back-up. Three hours of sunlight is required to keep the batteries charged for 10 days.

    Specifically designed for wildlife, the corral administers a mild shock upon contact. Due to the pulsating current, it is virtually harmless. Being highly sensitive to the clicking sound of the current, most elephants avoid the fence without ever coming into contact with it.

    The chain-free hattisar consists of five interconnected corrals on approximately two-and-one-half acres of open and wooded land.

    The corrals stand seven feet tall, constructed of rust-free steel posts and six strands of high tensile wire. Each post is encased in a protective tope.

    Each corral has a front, back and side gate for ease of access for cleaning, feeding, moving elephants in and out and providing socialization opportunities.

    The energizer and batteries are housed inside the mahout residence; two solar panels that charge the batteries are attached to the roof of the residence.

    Each corral is equipped with a cut-off switch enabling independent operation.

    This design has proven successful in many areas of Asia to prevent entry by wild bull elephants.

    Fresh water is stored in an elevated water tank and troughs are filled by gravity feed.

    water trough reduced 3
    All corrals have a custom-made concrete water trough that provides clean water.

    Healthy trees are an important component of the chain-free corrals, providing shade, browse and a natural scratching surface.

    To prevent serious damage to trees from elephant tusking activity, protectors were built around select trees.

    GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    • Reduce or eliminate stereotypical behavior caused by chaining
    • Eliminate low-level long-term stress caused by chaining
    • Increase physical activity
    • Encourage engagement in natural species-specific behavior such as  foraging, dusting, bathing, walking, playing, socializing and exploring
    • Eliminate injuries and bone and joint damage
    • Improve foot health
    • Maintain elephants’ compliance with mahout authority

    METHODS

    • Ethogram
    • Husbandry protocol
    • Management protocol
    • Feeding protocol

    1.   ETHOGRAM

    In order to quantify the effectiveness of the chain-free corral, an ethogram spreadsheet was created to track a list of natural and stereotypical behaviors, including walking, eating, dusting, playing, exploring, drinking, socializing, sleeping and exhibiting stereotypic behaviors.

    2.     HUSBANDRY PROTOCOL

    Manure removal and corral cleanliness standards were established to ensure the highest level of hygiene.

    3.    MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

    Training and management practices for inside the corral were established to give elephants a sense of freedom and security.

    4.    FEEDING PROTOCOL

    Changes to traditional feeding practices were established to promote activity and alleviate boredom.

    PROGRESS AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS

    Each elephant spends approximately 15 hours each day in the chain-free corrals. The remainder of their time is spent in Chitwan National Park engaged in grass collecting, anti-poaching patrols and conservation work and jungle safaris.

    Upon first introduction to the chain-free corrals, each elephant calmly explored the area, foraging, dusting and scratching on trees. Each evening they dig in the soft dirt of the forest, creating a comfortable sleeping spot; none return to the stable area to sleep.

    The related family of Man Kali, Prakriti Kali and Hem Gaj are housed together. They bonded immediately when united in the chain-free corral and continue to exhibit healthy elephant behavior, with Prakriti Kali assuming the role of big sister to Hem Gaj.

    A survey was conducted to track the behavior of the elephants toward the mahouts and drivers. Mahout compliance has not changed. Each elephant continues to respond favorably to mahouts and drivers—both inside and outside the corral—at the same high level as before being released from chains.

    Photographic records are being kept to track foot health and bone and joint conditions.

    Collectively, the elephants’ behavior represents a substantial improvement in natural activity and reduction in stress and stereotypical behavior.

    CONCLUSION

    The goal to eliminate stress from chaining and the resulting stereotypic behavior is realized. Adherence to the new feeding protocol ensures that both Prakriti Kali and Mel Kali do not engage in stereotypic, food anticipatory behavior. Since being introduced into the chain-free corral hattisar, all elephants engage in appropriate, beneficial, species-specific behavior; respond favorably to their mahouts; and appear to be calm and comfortable in their new environment, indications that the project is meeting its goals and objectives.

  • EAI’s May e-newsletter

    Two exciting new projects are underway in Nepal!

    This e-newsletter kicks off EAI’s first fundraising projects for Nepal this year. I hope you will help make it a success by telling your friends and neighbors how far the US dollar stretches in Nepal. Be part of the solution, one world, one elephant at a time!

    No more chains

    Between trimming feet and brainstorming about a retirement center for elephants in Sauraha, Nepal, we—you, I and all of EAI’s supporters—are about to embark on a very exciting pilot project at the National Trust for Nature Conservation Biodiversity Conservation Center (NTNC-BCC) hattisar (elephant stable).

    Pursuing last year’s recommendation to create chain-free enclosures for the BCC’s five forest patrol elephants, Naresh Subedi, an EAI advisor, and other NTNC officials have enthusiastically agreed to allow EAI to build a chain-free enclosure to demonstrate its functionality.

    No chains = cooperative elephants

    This is huge. It gives us the opportunity to show mahouts how cooperative elephants can become when allowed the freedom to move around unrestricted.

    Sweetie KaliEight-year-old Sweetie Kali will be the lucky recipient of this new and improved yard, where she will be off chains 24/7.

    In addition to the direct benefits to her psychological and physical wellbeing, Sweetie Kali will demonstrate to the mahouts and NTNC administrators that elephants do not “go wild” when allowed to spend unsupervised time off chains.

    Sweetie Kali, her fellow herd members and most of the government elephants are taken to the forest each day. Although they spend eight hours a day wandering the forest foraging for food, they are still under the strict control of their mahouts. Their lives are measurably better than those of privately owned elephants, who are required to give rides to tourists all day and are tethered in a stable overnight.

    But, together with NTNC, we can do better.

    Sweetie Kali and positive changes to come

    Sweetie Kali

    Sweetie Kali was chosen because she is the youngest elephant in the herd, born at the NTNC-BCC. Her incessant head bobbing is a concern for the mahouts and management alike. The staff was witness to the onset of her stereotypical behavior, which started when she turned 3, following her formal training and induction into the traditional world of chains.

    Sweetie Kali shelterCurrently, all the elephants are tethered under their own private shelters. Once everyone is comfortable that the fence provides the security necessary, chances are that Sweetie’s mother will be allowed to join her in the yard. Imagine what a moving reunion that will be.

    The new chain-free yard will allow Sweetie Kali to engage in natural behaviors she has been prevented from in the past. She will be able to explore her new yard, dust herself to her heart’s content, create mud wallows and feel the soothing sensation of scratching on a huge tree. Instead of sleeping tethered between two poles, she will sleep in any soft and comfortable location she chooses.

    EAI’s goal is to get this corral up and functioning before I leave Nepal in June. That is a rather optimistic expectation but I am determined to move the project forward as quickly as possible.

    Sweetie Kali fence

    Vishnu Narain, a collaborative partner in our Bannerghatta, India, care center project, operates IBEX Gallagher, a power fence company. We could not be more fortunate to have this connection. I have his bid in hand and a commitment to install the fence as soon as we are ready.

    Training and foot care wall — a prototype for Asia

    If we built only the electric fence for the corral it would mean a world of improvement for Sweetie and would keep the cost of the project down. But a training and foot care wall—a two-sided, free standing, steel pipe structure—is essential to our efforts to improve elephant welfare in Nepal. Once the wall is in place, foot care will become a required duty of each mahout, integrated into their elephant care responsibilities, and all the NTNC-BCC and government elephants in Sauraha will have access to it.

    The cost of the electric fence, including area preparation, materials, shipping and installation, is estimated to be $3,240. The training and foot care wall, including pipe, delivery, welding, concrete and labor, nearly doubles the cost of the project. I believe this will be $6,000 well spent as it will create a prototype that can be duplicated throughout Asia.

    Help us hire a veterinarian to oversee our Nepal projects!

    EAI has the exciting opportunity to engage a veterinarian in Sauraha, Chitwan National Park. The timing is perfect!

    This is our third year in Sauraha. With the ongoing foot care and mahout training and the new chain-free enclosure and training and foot care wall, it is essential that we hire a veterinarian to coordinate and supervise our activities. It will also be much easier to expand EAI’s welfare projects in Nepal with a professional in place.

    Simply building a chain-free corral and a training and foot care wall for the mahouts and their elephants is not enough. We also need to formalize our Compassionate Elephant Care training and create incentives to encourage the mahouts to become more engaged in all aspects of their elephants’ care and wellbeing. Once our collaborative effort to create an elephant retirement home is realized, our veterinarian will monitor the daily care of the resident elephants.

    In addition to overseeing EAI’s projects in my absence, our veterinarian will work closely with Dr. Gairhe, the senior government veterinarian, assisting in wildlife captures, rhino counts and regular animal management activities undertaken by NTNC-BCC.

    EAI will be responsible for the vet’s salary as well as all necessary equipment, lab work, travel and any other expenses we deem appropriate. Resumes are currently being reviewed.

    Our budget for the first year is $15,000. Yes, you read that right — $15,000 includes the veterinarian’s salary and other costs associated with his/her work for EAI.

    Update: Elephant Care and Rehabilitation Center Project, Bannerghatta, India

    Earlier this year I learned that a portion of the land intended for our care center project was designated as revenue land.

    care center property - BannerghattaRevenue land is owned by the government and designated for agricultural use or forest restoration. There are cases when the government can gift this land but the recipient must abide by strict use requirements and restrictions, is never allowed to sell it and the government has the legal right to reclaim it.

    The process to acquire permission to use revenue land in India moves slowly and must take into consideration the villagers’ needs and legal rights.

    EAI collaborating partner Vishnu Narain reports that progress continues for the care center. He has met with local government officials and regulators, who expressed support of the project.

    EAI is taking a wait-and-see attitude on this project. Once we have written authorization from the government to fence off and use the land for the intended purpose of an elephant care center, EAI will once again become active in the process moving forward.

    I look forward to keeping you up to date on our exciting new projects.

    Please visit EAI’s Facebook page so we can keep you updated on our progress as it happens!