Wednesday 11th November
We started today with the anatomy and physiology of elephant feet with lectures by Professor Fowler, who has written many excellent veterinary and zoo text books (books that Steve and I use on an almost daily basis). Professor Fowler also lectured later in the day on the processes of wound healing. The principle being that to understand the proper care of elephant feet, one must understand how the foot functions. This was followed by practical sessions observing elephant foot care in free contact and protected contact situations. This was particularly useful to me as it is the target I wish to achieve for Boy. We then had more lectures on the veterinary management of foot issues from the Hamburg Zoo veterinarians.
The day was finished with videos and photos from Roy Smith (who recently transported the baby elephants through Kyiv on their way to another zoo). This was about severe problems and treatment of foot conditions – it was very interesting as many of the techniques were similar to those used on Boy at the start of the year. I then managed to have a quick chat with Alan Roocroft (who runs the course) about Boy, before heading to a Chinese restaurant with my fellow course participants.
Thursday 12th November
Today’s lectures were on the topic of moving elephants – chemical immobilization, movement of elephants between zoos and the issues of relocating wild elephants. We spent half the day in the elephant house for practical work. We were set a team challenge of planning the crating of a particular elephant in a particular location in the elephant house. We worked together in small teams, and the group I was in got the process figured out correctly. We then watched the elephant keepers and animal moving team run through the whole procedure with an elephant and all the kit needed. It was amazing to see it all in action. In the evening we had a lecture and film from a South African Vet who routinely relocates whole families of elephants, which is pretty spectacular if thought about – anaesthetising and transporting 10 or more elephants in one go!
The other students headed out for a meal, but I stayed back at the hotel to have a beer and chat with Roy from the animal transport company and Professor Kurt. Professor Kurt has studied Asian elephants all his life and knows many of the people I know in Sri Lanka, including Ganga who I was at University with. He calls her the “giggling vet”, which is pretty apt.
And then, an early night – I’m exhausted!
We started today with the anatomy and physiology of elephant feet with lectures by Professor Fowler, who has written many excellent veterinary and zoo text books (books that Steve and I use on an almost daily basis). Professor Fowler also lectured later in the day on the processes of wound healing. The principle being that to understand the proper care of elephant feet, one must understand how the foot functions. This was followed by practical sessions observing elephant foot care in free contact and protected contact situations. This was particularly useful to me as it is the target I wish to achieve for Boy. We then had more lectures on the veterinary management of foot issues from the Hamburg Zoo veterinarians.
The day was finished with videos and photos from Roy Smith (who recently transported the baby elephants through Kyiv on their way to another zoo). This was about severe problems and treatment of foot conditions – it was very interesting as many of the techniques were similar to those used on Boy at the start of the year. I then managed to have a quick chat with Alan Roocroft (who runs the course) about Boy, before heading to a Chinese restaurant with my fellow course participants.
Thursday 12th November
Today’s lectures were on the topic of moving elephants – chemical immobilization, movement of elephants between zoos and the issues of relocating wild elephants. We spent half the day in the elephant house for practical work. We were set a team challenge of planning the crating of a particular elephant in a particular location in the elephant house. We worked together in small teams, and the group I was in got the process figured out correctly. We then watched the elephant keepers and animal moving team run through the whole procedure with an elephant and all the kit needed. It was amazing to see it all in action. In the evening we had a lecture and film from a South African Vet who routinely relocates whole families of elephants, which is pretty spectacular if thought about – anaesthetising and transporting 10 or more elephants in one go!
The other students headed out for a meal, but I stayed back at the hotel to have a beer and chat with Roy from the animal transport company and Professor Kurt. Professor Kurt has studied Asian elephants all his life and knows many of the people I know in Sri Lanka, including Ganga who I was at University with. He calls her the “giggling vet”, which is pretty apt.
And then, an early night – I’m exhausted!
Tools for footcare 
Professor Murray Fowler and an elephant foot
Elephant Foot
Bull elephant foot
Alan trimming Bull elephant foot in Protected Contact 
Alan treating feet in PC
Giraffe statue outside zoo 
Main entrance to zoo
Roy Smith talking about elephant transport
Roy's elephant lorry and a very big crane
Putting the crate in position
Elephant demonstrating how comfortable the crate is
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