_edited.jpg)
AUTHORS / RESEARCHERS: NICOLAS LAINÉ
Since the end of the last century, several cases of tuberculosis have been reported in elephants in different institutions worldwide. While the fact is not new, the resurgence and disparity of cases -whether in Western zoos or among captive individuals in Asia- has triggered a global alert. The re-emergence of tuberculosis in pachyderms raises both health concerns and conservation issues. In many Asian elephant range-countries the disease is still not eradicated. Thus, in addition to presenting risk of contamination between humans, the tuberculosis agent can spread to wildlife and produce a new transmission reservoir. In addition to health and environmental issues, there are also economic issues, as in Asia most elephants living in captivity work in park for tourist centers, to where there is a risk of transmitting the bacillus.In Laos, the surveillance campaign conducted by the health and veterinary agencies relied heavily on the prevalence of the disease among mahouts or elephant drivers. However, mahouts were reluctant to play the role of mediators, not only because they did not perceive the risks of transmission between humans and animals, but also because this biosecurity device exacerbated already existing tensions between different forms of knowledge on elephants. Working daily with these animals, they are attentive to their symptoms (weight, vigor) and rely on ethno-veterinary knowledge sometimes constructed with the elephants themselves, notably in the use of medicinal plants. Since the end of the last century, several cases of tuberculosis have been reported in elephants in different institutions worldwide. While the fact is not new, the resurgence and disparity of cases -whether in Western zoos or among captive individuals in Asia- has triggered a global alert. The re-emergence of tuberculosis in pachyderms raises both health concerns and conservation issues. In many Asian elephant range-countries the disease is still not eradicated. Thus, in addition to presenting risk of contamination between humans, the tuberculosis agent can spread to wildlife and produce a new transmission reservoir. In addition to health and environmental issues, there are also economic issues, as in Asia most elephants living in captivity work in park for tourist centers, to where there is a risk of transmitting the bacillus.In Laos, the surveillance campaign conducted by the health and veterinary agencies relied heavily on the prevalence of the disease among mahouts or elephant drivers. However, mahouts were reluctant to play the role of mediators, not only because they did not perceive the risks of transmission between humans and animals, but also because this biosecurity device exacerbated already existing tensions between different forms of knowledge on elephants. Working daily with these animals, they are attentive to their symptoms (weight, vigor) and rely on ethno-veterinary knowledge sometimes constructed with the elephants themselves, notably in the use of medicinal plants.
Comments