☰

About the Centre

The Elephant Research Centre [Centre for Elephant Disease Control and Prevention (CEDCP) & Elephant Formulary] at VISTAS, Chennai, India was inaugurated by the Chancellor of VISTAS Dr.Ishari K Ganesh & Vice- President (Planning & Development), VISTAS Prof. Dr. A. JothiMurugan on Friday 27 October 2017.

Our Elephant Research Centre is our country’s unique Elephant Research Centre which primarily focusses on Elephant Formulary.

Mission

Elephant Research Centre [Centre for Elephant Disease Control and Prevention (CEDCP) & Elephant Formulary] is dedicated to the health (Treatment, Drugs and Dose), welfare of elephants and the sharing of information among elephant professionals, Forest Departments, State and Central Ministry of the Government of India.

How we are organised

Elephant Research Centre is made up of members from National and International Universities / Research Institutions / Forest Departments.

Achievements

• Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, VISTAS organised an Elephant Conference on 02 January 2017.


• Our Elephant Conference was recognized by the United Nations in their official website UN World Wildlife Day.


• Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, VISTAS organised an Elephant Conference 2 on April 11, 2018.


• Theme of Elephant Conference 2 - "Save The Elephant".


• Shared Elephant Formulary to elephant veterinarians of four states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Assam and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

International MoU

Elephant Research Centre, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences signed a MoU with Elephant Care International, TN, USA

Purpose

• Identifying and planning of Elephant Research Projects


• MoU initiative with State Forest Departments, Wildlife Institutes and Central Forest Academy

Facts about Elephants

Elephants are the largest of all land animals in the world. There are two species, the African and the Asian Elephants.

Why Elephants Matter?

Elephants are among the most intelligent of the creatures with which we share the planet. Elephants are also keystone species, playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. During the dry season, elephants use their tusks to dig for water. Elephants provide water for other animals that share harsh habitats. When forest elephants eat, they create gaps in the vegetation. These gaps allow new plants to grow and create pathways for other smaller animals to use. They are also one of the major ways in which trees disperse their seeds. .

Why Save Elephants?

Elephants are Asia’s and Africa’s gardeners and landscape engineers, planting seeds and creating habitat wherever they roam.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

Credit: http://wildlifeday.org/about

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. World Wildlife Day has now become the most important global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

In line with the UN General Assembly Resolution proclaiming World Wildlife Day, the CITES Secretariat calls on all member States and organizations of the United Nations system and other global, regional and sub-regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and all interested individuals, to: observe and raise awareness of the theme for World Wildlife Day in an appropriate manner; to associate the celebrations with major national and international conservation events, where appropriate; to organize campaigns to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife and their products using targeted strategies in order to influence consumer behaviour; and to make use of the World Wildlife Day logo as widely as possible.

Governments, law makers, enforcement officers, customs officials and park rangers across every region are scaling up their efforts to protect wildlife. It is also up to every citizen, young and old, to protect wildlife and their habitats. We all have a role to play. Our collective conservation actions can be the difference between a species surviving or disappearing.

What is CITES?

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

CITES and Elephants?

Every three years the world’s governments, NGOs and intergovernmental organizations come together for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). It is the single most powerful forum for deciding the future of elephants.

Conference & Events

Elephants Rejuvenation Camp Visit, on 15 Jan 2020

Elephant Conference 2, organised by Dept of Pharmacology, on 11 Apr 2018

Inauguration of Elephant Research Centre, Dept of Pharmacology, on 27 Oct 2017

Elephant Conference 1, organised by Dept of Pharmacology, on 02 Jan 2017

Publication

Therapeutic management of wounds in Asian elephants - Vol 11 - Special Issue 2

Contact Us

Dr. V. Santhosh Kumar, M.Pharm, Ph.D.
Professor & Founder Chief
Elephant Research Centre
Chair - Steering Committee
Department of Pharmacology
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS)
VISTAS
E-mail: natu9sea@gmail.com