Training the Next Generation of Wildlife Vets to Save Sumatran Elephants
On the island of Sumatra, a Sumatran elephant in crisis doesn’t have much time. Injuries from snares, conflicts with humans, and habitat loss put these gentle giants at constant risk, and veterinary care is scarce. Enter the Wildlife Ambulance, a mobile veterinary unit based in Aceh Jaya Regency, providing not only urgent medical care but also hands-on training for the next generation of wildlife veterinarians.
Sumatran elephants are among the most endangered species on Earth. As ecosystem engineers, they shape forests, disperse seeds, and maintain biodiversity crucial to countless other species. Yet deforestation, monoculture plantations, mining, and expanding villages are fragmenting their habitats, increasing encounters with humans and the risk of injury or death.
“Every elephant that survives means a chance for the species to survive,” says Leif Cocks, conservationist and founder of the International Elephant Project. “When we heal one elephant, we’re helping to heal our entire planet.”
Bridging the Wildlife Care Gap
Despite the urgency, Sumatra has very few veterinary professionals trained to handle wildlife emergencies. The Wildlife Ambulance, operated in partnership with the International Elephant Project and Syiah Kuala University, seeks to close that gap. Led by Senior Veterinarian Christopher Stremme, the program offers intensive, field-based training to veterinary students and early-career veterinarians.
Students gain experience in conducting elephant health checks, managing sedation, treating wounds, and even mastering specialized skills like foot care—a critical factor in long-term elephant health. For many, it is the first time standing beside an elephant, an experience that transforms abstract veterinary knowledge into real-world skills.
“The first time students stand beside an elephant, everything changes,” says Cocks. “They see the scale of responsibility, the complexity, and the empathy required. That moment stays with them for life.”
Hands-On Learning in the Field
Training also involves emergency rescue and rehabilitation, helping elephants recover from injuries that prevent immediate return to the wild. Through these experiences, students learn to balance clinical decision-making with logistics and safety considerations for animals that can weigh up to five tonnes.
Beyond individual training, the program fosters a global network of wildlife professionals. International seminars bring participants from over a dozen countries together to share knowledge on emerging elephant diseases, injury management, and conservation strategies.
Education as Conservation
The Wildlife Ambulance’s impact extends to local communities, too. Schoolchildren are invited to learn about elephant behavior and their role in forest ecosystems. Early education fosters stewardship, ensuring the next generation values and protects these iconic animals.
“Protecting Sumatran elephants isn’t just about rescuing individuals—it’s about investing in people who can care for and defend them for years to come,” says Cocks. Every veterinary student trained, every community educated, strengthens the safety net around this endangered species.
Through practical experience, global collaboration, and community engagement, the Wildlife Ambulance is creating a cadre of wildlife vets ready to step into the field and stand between elephants and extinction. In Sumatra, training veterinarians is more than education—it is a lifeline for one of the world’s most imperiled species.
