IMPLANTATION OF MICROCHIPS TRANSPONDERS IN THE CAPTIVE INDIAN ELEPHANTS
Dr Amit Tripathy, New Delhi.
Introduction
The population number of captive elephants in India was based only on estimations, as prior to the year 2002 no formal scientific census had been taken. However the population was estimated to be 3400–3600 . Therefore in 2002 Project Elephant (Government of India) decided to undertake a project of microchip implantation in all captive elephants of India for identification and proper maintenance of a database.
A microchip is a device inserted into the body of the elephant in order to identify it as an individual. The microchip system has two components, the microchip itself and a reader, a device that can determine the unique code number of a microchip.
A microchip is a device that is very small, about the diameter of a grain of rice and about 1 cm long. Inside a glass pellet is a unique code number which is never duplicated. The microchip is injected under the elephant’s skin. Veterinarians usually implant the chip in the back of the left ear.
A microchip reader has the ability to read the chip’s individual number from a distance of about 10 centimetres. The code usually consists of nine digits or otherwise, as below.
TN 123-456-789 or 123-456-789 A or 4D 123-456-789
The usefulness of microchips
Microchips are useful because presently there is only the Registration Certificate which can determine ownership of an elephant, and that document has insufficient details. Consequently, it is possible for illegally captured wild elephants or illegally imported elephants, or for stolen elephants, to be issued a Registration Certificate. Implanting a microchip can prevent such fraudulent registration. A microchip also makes it very easy for an official to know the animal’s registration history when an elephant is being transported or its medical history when receiving veterinary treatment.
Microchip tagging
The microchip technology was developed in USA during the early 1980s for identification of animals. The microchips are a tag in the form of “Read Only Transponder”. Each tag comprises some read only memory, a power rectifying circuit, an onboard oscillator, and a variable antenna, loading circuit and driving logic. The memory is permanent and the tags do not need power to retain their identity and function without any battery The microchip is small, barely larger than a grain of rice, and is approximately 12 mm x 2 mm in size. Newly designed microchips consist of a glass capsule made of bio-compatible glass, which is readily accepted by the body tissue. Within the glass capsule there is a silicon chip carrying the unique individual code, along with a ferried rod and copper coil that receives and sends the information to the reader. The FDX–B microchips conforming to ISO 11784 and 11785 are preloaded in a sterilized hypodermic syringe. The code on the microchip is unique and can be read by passing the reader over the microchip. A built in rechargeable battery powers the hand-held lightweight reader. Readings are received by the reader and displayed on its LCD screen, while the presence of a microchip is also confirmed by a beep signal.
Method and site of implant
The recommended method of implantation is by hypodermal injection. Each microchip is contained in a separate hypodermic sterile pack. Before injecting the implant, the chip may be read to confirm that it is reading properly and the number can be noted accordingly. The recommended implant site in elephants is subcutaneous, in the neck behind the left ear . The site is chosen for easy access and to allow consistency within large groups. It is effective for easier reading on a national scale. The needle is inserted upward at an angle of 45–50° at the site . After implantation the site should be checked for any bleeding or tearing of tissues, and should be disinfected. Then the chip is read by the hand-held reader to ensure its location and function .
Implantation of Radio Transponders (Microchips):
In mammals, radio transponders should be implanted at the base of the left ear. Implant site must be cleaned with alcohol before radio chipping but do not shave skin. The implanter needle is placed at an approximately 45 angle to the skin and then positioned almost parallel to the skin surface and transponder is injected under the skin. The needle should be carefully withdrawn and fingers pressure applied to the implantation site for approximately 30 seconds. The implantation site then should be scanned by the reader to verify both successful implantation and transponder’s unique code. Transponders should also be checked as well before implanting into animals. Occasionally the needle will leave a wound; if it does, it is recommend to seal the wound with an adhesive skin bond. Information on location of radio transponders (microchips) in the animals should be filled up in the Individual animal history card.
Protocol for mahouts and elephants
For the microchip implantation and health check-up of the elephants a no-man zone is created close to the area where the elephants are tethered at campsite. The teams are placed themselves in the no-man zone at least 50 meters away from each other. A forest guard is put on duty with the elephants and given a whistle and a red flag, while another staff member is assigned to the implantation team with a whistle and a green flag. The forest guard with the implantation team waves the green flag to the forest guard with the elephants signalling that one elephant with its mahout could come for implantation. The forest guard waves the red flag signalling he has seen the instruction. The elephants’ registration number is displayed to the team and is noted. After completing implantation, the same elephant is taken to the team of veterinarians conducting the health check-up and treatment Once the elephant left the implantation team, the forest guard waves the green flag signalling that the next elephant could come and the cycle moved on. After completing the health checkup and any necessary treatments, the elephant returned to the tethering area by another route, to ensure that the teams attended to all elephants and that the mahouts are not confused during the exercise. During the implantation and examination only essential personnel is allowed in the area, the media is placed in a strategic point away from both teams.
Veterinary surgeon protocol during implantation
The veterinary staff follow a protocol during the entire exercise. This include instructions given beforehand to the owners and to the mahouts about what is going to be done and what is expected of them. The protocol includes that the elephant would have hobbles on its forelegs and the owner or mahout would tie the forelegs with the hobbles. After securing the elephant with the hobbles the mahout give the command of “Sam beit” (kneel down) and the owner then pulle the left ear of the animal towards the eyes of the animal. After this the animal is approached from behind by one of the veterinarians and the area on the elephant’s neck is sterilized for implantation. The second veterinary surgeon immediately follow and implant the chip subcutaneously. Standard sterilization protocols are followed by the veterinary surgeons while implanting the microchips.
Reference:On request
