Monday 9th November
This was the first day of elephant school, with an early start. I was quite nervous to meet all these people, especially as I am quite new to elephants, but extremely pleased to be there. When I first started working with Boy and heard about elephant school I really didn’t think I’d actually be able to go. Anyway, there were 14 other participants in the school, from the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Holland, USA, Israel, Hungary, Belgium and Spain – a great international mix.
The day started with introductions to the school and the staff involved. We had lectures on the European breeding and management programmes, genetics of elephant breeding and the programme at Hagenbeck (Hamburg) Zoo.
We had a tour of the elephant facilities with the Zoo Director and then an evening tour of the Tropical House, followed by a meal and drinks in the Tropical House. It was lovely.
I have realised now just how little I know about elephants and think that this course will make a huge difference to how I care for Boy.
Tuesday 10th November
I was very tired this morning, but was up and away on time after a nice hot shower – our shower in Kyiv is good, but has quite low pressure and limited hot water. The one in my apartment here is the absolute opposite and it was difficult to make myself turn the shower off in the end.
We started the day with lectures on team building, problem solving and developing elephant management programmes. These were both interesting and useful and I hope to make use of them in the future. We then watched a free contact elephant training session – this is when the keepers are standing in the enclosure with the elephants, so very different to what I do with Boy at Kyiv. We then had a short lecture on some elephant health problems and moved onto practical sessions.
They brought an elephant out into an off show area to demonstrate the rope techniques needed when safely anaesthetising an elephant – the techniques would bring the elephant safely to the floor when the anaesthetic takes effect in a suitable position for the veterinarians. We practiced putting ropes on the legs, but didn’t actually bring her to the ground. We then did some basic knot tying and splicing which was fun – I have done the splices they taught before, but just couldn’t get one of them right – very frustrating!
The last lecture of the day was from Professor Kurt (who has written many many books about elephants) on the history of man and elephants, particularly the working relationship and riding of elephants – absolutely fascinating.
We all then spent the rest of the evening in a Greek restaurant, still talking about elephants!
This was the first day of elephant school, with an early start. I was quite nervous to meet all these people, especially as I am quite new to elephants, but extremely pleased to be there. When I first started working with Boy and heard about elephant school I really didn’t think I’d actually be able to go. Anyway, there were 14 other participants in the school, from the UK, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Holland, USA, Israel, Hungary, Belgium and Spain – a great international mix.
The day started with introductions to the school and the staff involved. We had lectures on the European breeding and management programmes, genetics of elephant breeding and the programme at Hagenbeck (Hamburg) Zoo.
We had a tour of the elephant facilities with the Zoo Director and then an evening tour of the Tropical House, followed by a meal and drinks in the Tropical House. It was lovely.
I have realised now just how little I know about elephants and think that this course will make a huge difference to how I care for Boy.
Tuesday 10th November
I was very tired this morning, but was up and away on time after a nice hot shower – our shower in Kyiv is good, but has quite low pressure and limited hot water. The one in my apartment here is the absolute opposite and it was difficult to make myself turn the shower off in the end.
We started the day with lectures on team building, problem solving and developing elephant management programmes. These were both interesting and useful and I hope to make use of them in the future. We then watched a free contact elephant training session – this is when the keepers are standing in the enclosure with the elephants, so very different to what I do with Boy at Kyiv. We then had a short lecture on some elephant health problems and moved onto practical sessions.
They brought an elephant out into an off show area to demonstrate the rope techniques needed when safely anaesthetising an elephant – the techniques would bring the elephant safely to the floor when the anaesthetic takes effect in a suitable position for the veterinarians. We practiced putting ropes on the legs, but didn’t actually bring her to the ground. We then did some basic knot tying and splicing which was fun – I have done the splices they taught before, but just couldn’t get one of them right – very frustrating!
The last lecture of the day was from Professor Kurt (who has written many many books about elephants) on the history of man and elephants, particularly the working relationship and riding of elephants – absolutely fascinating.
We all then spent the rest of the evening in a Greek restaurant, still talking about elephants!
Inside elephant enclosure 
Baby at the indoor pool
Safety lines on the floor in the keeper area
PC Training Wall (kind of like my one)
Exploring the outdoor enclosure
Crocodile Pool in the Tropical House
Fish
Lobster
The HUGE marine tank
In the massive marine tank
Indoor Enclosure
Start of a Free Contact Training Session
Training
Training
Mmmm, sticks
Having a nice scratch on a rock
Playing with water
Lectures at the Elephant Barn
Meeting my first elephant
Zoo Director Stephan demonstrating rope tying
Alan Roocroft showing another rope technique
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