Investigating changes within the handling system of the largest semi-captive population of Asian elephants.

The current extinction crisis leaves us increasingly reliant on captive populations to maintain vulnerable species. Approximately one third of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are living in semi-captive conditions in range countries. Their relationship with humans stretches back millennia, yet elephants have never been fully domesticated. We rely on the expertise of traditional handlers (mahouts) to manage these essentially wild animals, yet this profession may be threatened in the modern day. Here, we study the handling system of semi-captive timber elephants in Myanmar; the largest global semi-captive population (~5 000). We investigate how recent changes in Myanmar may have affected the keeping system and mahout-elephant interactions. Structured interviews investigated changes to mahout attitude and experience over the last two decades, as perceived by those who had worked in the industry for at least 10 years (n = 23) and as evaluated in current mahouts (n = 210), finding mahouts today are younger (median age 22yrs), less experienced (median experience 3yrs), and change elephants frequently, threatening traditional knowledge transfer. Mahout-elephant interactions manifested as 5 components ('job appreciation'; 'experience is necessary'; 'human-elephant interaction'; 'own knowledge'; 'elephant relationship'), according to Principal Components Analysis. Experienced mahouts and mahouts of bulls and younger elephants were more likely to agree that 'experience is necessary' to be a mahout. Mahouts with difficult elephants scored lower on 'human-elephant interaction' and a mahout's perception of their 'own knowledge' increased with more experience. Our finding of change in terms of mahout experience, age and commitment in the largest semi-captive elephant population suggests need for formal training and assessment of impacts on elephant welfare; these are findings applicable to thousands of elephants under similar management.

Complex specialized rehabilitation following severe brain injury: a UK perspective.

This article describes the setup of brain injury rehabilitation services in the United Kingdom within the context of the National Health Service. The rehabilitation services are broadly divided into local general rehabilitation services, specialist district rehabilitation services, and complex specialized rehabilitation services. The Department of Health published the National Service Framework for Long-Term Neurological Conditions in 2005, setting out the 11 quality requirements to ensure provision of lifelong patient-centered care. A network of rehabilitation services, cited as a model of good practice by the Department of Health, including specialist inpatient and community outreach services for patients with complex brain injury, with research embedded within the clinical program and close collaboration between the clinicians and researchers are described.