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Principles of Elephant Management II

Hosted by Houston Zoo
Houston, TX
Fall 2022 - TBD

 

Course Description

Principles of Elephant Management II focuses on the skills necessary to safely accomplish all of the AZA-required elephant behavioral components. Live training demonstrations and hands-on experiences will be utilized to combine the teaching of advanced elephant principles with best occupational safety practices. To provide students with the most valuable hands-on and personalized experience, enrollment in this course is limited to 13 participants.

All students and instructors will be required to provide proof of vaccination to attend this course. All attendees will need to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to attending the course.  Anyone requesting a medical or religious exemption, will be required to show documentation from either their personal physician or spiritual leader. If an exemption is approved, the individual will be required to wear a mask at all times.

Course Objective

  • Occupational Safety

  • Standards and Protocols

  • Behavioral Components

  • Enrichment

  • Tools/Equipment/Facility Design

  • Medical Management

  • Elephant foot care

  • Elephant Reproduction/Birth Management/Calf introductions

  • Successful Elephant Program Components

Course Schedule

First Day
 - Student registration
 - Opening evening reception

Mid-Week
- Class meets all-day

Last Day
- Class meets
- Closing Dinner

Instructors

Bryan Amaral, Senior Curator - Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Jennifer D'Agostino, Veterinarian - Oklahoma City Zoo
Daryl Hoffman, Curator of Large Mammals - Houston Zoo
Mike McClure, General Curator & Elephant Collections Manager - Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Nick Newby, Collection Manager - White Oak Sanctuary
Vernon Presley, Curator of Africa - Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Is This Course Right For You?

AZA accreditation standards require that the designated elephant manager at each AZA-accredited institution keeping elephants complete this course. This course is applicable for elephant managers and curators who oversee elephant programs. Animal care professionals who have completed Principles of Elephant Management I and possess relevant elephant care experience may also apply by submitting a letter of your intended benefit to azatraining@aza.org for consideration. 

Prerequisites

Principles of Elephant Management I (PEM I) must be completed prior to this course. Those who took PEM I prior to 2003 (in 2002 or before) are required to retake the course prior to completing PEM II. Elephant care professionals who have completed Principles of Elephant Management I and possess several years of relevant experience may also apply by submitting a letter of your intended benefit to azatraining@aza.org for consideration. 

Travel & Accommodations

Air Travel

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is the closest airport to the Zoo.

Lodging

General Hotel Pricing*:
$175+ King/Double Queen Beds

Please wait until you are admitted into the course before making your reservations. You will receive a confirmation letter containing detailed information regarding your accommodations and transportation once you are admitted.

For information regarding our code of conduct, registration, and refund policies, please visit our Professional Development Course Policies page.

Questions? For additional details please contact the AZA Professional Development Department.

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