Passive Control Elephant Management
With captive elephants as our teachers, management systems can
be designed that best suit an elephant's physical and psychological
needs.
As of June 2007, The Elephant Sanctuary has provided refuge to
23 needy elephants over a span
of twelve years. We use a management
approach that imitates the behavior
observed in wild herds of elephants.
From the moment an elephant arrives
at the Sanctuary she is managed
with passive-control, a non-dominance
management system developed by
the Sanctuary. Currently eighteen
elephants reside at the Sanctuary,
all females, both African and Asian,
born in the wild and captured as
calves. Each elephant was raised
in a zoo or circus environment
prior to moving to the Sanctuary’s
natural-habitat refuge.
Traditional elephant management focuses on a keeper's dominance
over the elephant. This tradition grew out of a need to control
the elephant for entertainment purposes, rides, and husbandry procedures.
It has been customary for the care and management of elephants to
be dictated not by the elephant's nature but by the keeper's resources,
which are many times limited. We have found that modern facility
design and progressive management philosophy can make the need for
a keeper's dominance over elephants obsolete.
Passive-control is a term used to describe a non-dominant technique
used in the management of elephants.
Passive-control can be successfully
used in free-contact (no barrier between the keeper and the elephant),
protected-contact (barrier between the keeper and the elephant),
and no-contact systems (barrier and no physical contact between
the keeper and the elephant). Negative reinforcement or tools of
control such as an ankus or electrical shock stick are not used
in passive-control management. It is important to note that this
system does not allow a human to dominate or control an elephant.
The success of this system relies on a mutual respect between the
keeper and the elephant. Without the respect and trust of the elephant,
a keeper cannot work safely in this system.
Field observation of wild elephants suggests that this species
does not operate as a pure hierarchy
but in an intricate social structure
of individuals who relate to one
another independent of the herd. Although
there is one who leads (matriarch),
that leader does so without brute
force. Leadership qualities, which
include wisdom and experience,
are the tools by which the Matriarch
commands respect and cooperation. Therefore,
it is reasonable to believe that
elephants in captivity do not need
to be dominated to be managed.
Instead they will cooperate with
an individual who has proven him
or herself by exhibiting leadership
qualities. This is why the term
"caregiver" is used at The Elephant
Sanctuary, and this term is used
in reference to the passive control
form of management, while "keeper"
is used when referencing traditional
forms of elephant management.
Crucial to this system is an elephant's access to a vast
and diverse space. Elephants are
a highly intelligent, social species,
motivated by food and relationships. It
is our observation that a diverse
vast space and compatible others
have the greatest positive influence
on an elephant's behavior and health.
Space helps to reduce tension and
relieve boredom. With room to roam
elephants can maintain healthy
feet and a toned body. Subordinate
elephants do not feel trapped or
hunted by an intimidating elephant;
with room the subordinate elephant
can flee. She has an opportunity
to develop the self-confidence
necessary to overcome her fear,
and over time she can develop the
skills to relate to other elephants
and become a viable, integral member
of the heard. Space provides
the opportunity to avoid confrontation,
thereby reducing stress. Reducing
the pressures that can cause an
elephant to become fearful and/or
agitated decreases the probability
of aggression toward other elephants
and caregivers.
With space, elephants spend less time in proximity to caregivers
and more time relating to one another.
They learn to get their social
and psychological needs met from
one another, and they become a
healthy, self-governing herd. The caregiver's role is not to dominate
or dictate the elephants' lives but to provide a place where the
elephants feel safe.
Equally as important as space is ensuring that all of an elephant's
basic needs are met. Denying food,
water, shelter, security, emotional
expression, and compatible others
is an outdated tool that has no
value in a sound management system. Passive-control does not allow
for deprivation, instead it strives to be the ultimate provider
so that each elephant learns trust instead of fears. Deprivation
in any of these areas only serves to undermine the elephants' trust
in the keeper. Without the respect and trust of the elephant, a
keeper cannot operate safely in this system.
Elephants thrive in an environment where they have the freedom
of choice about decisions that
affect them. Choices such as who they spend time with and when,
what to eat and where, and when and where they sleep are choices
that each elephant should be allowed to make for themselves. When
such decisions are made by the elephants, they form strong bonds
with one another and their caregivers. Without the threat of being
deprived or forced to do something against their will, they are
cooperative and calm.
In a natural habitat environment elephants have access to a wide
range of vegetation and topographical variations. Deciding on when
and where to graze, when to submerge in a pond, where to enter the
woods, and how long to remain there are all decisions that may seem
simple but are vital to the well-being of the individual elephant.
When allowed to “just be elephants” they have been observed
self-medicating for everything from abdominal discomfort to mosquito
bites. They search out nature's remedies that help to strengthen
and heal their bodies. Contrary to what some might think, this system
creates a harmonious situation in which a human can operate, not
on the level of the dominant or submissive individual, but as an
accepted member of the herd, able to accomplish husbandry tasks
and medical procedures safely.
Caregiver knowledge and attitude plays a key role in this system.
An acute understanding of elephant
behavior is essential. We have
found that a caregiver, sensitive
to elephants and void of any desire
to dominate, will be the most effective. The ability to question
everything you thought you knew about elephants and their management
primes you for success in this system.
Perhaps the most important and challenging component of this system
is time. In this system the elephants operate in their own time,
not ours. Although they are creatures of habit whose movements can
be anticipated, their movements should not be dictated. They are
not ruled by our time clocks or schedules; instead they have an
internal guide, which they follow. Allowing elephants to determine
when they will do everything throughout their day and night is the
ultimate freedom these captive animals can experience.
The results we have seen over the past eleven years speak volumes.
We have experienced everything
from solitary animals integrating
into herd life, to formerly aggressive
elephants becoming extremely passive
and chronic health issues ending
with very dramatic positive results
in a short period of time. With
captive elephants as our teachers,
and wild elephants as our guides,
a captive-elephant management program
can be designed that best suits an elephant's physical and psychological
needs.
"Are
Zoos Suitable Places for
Elephants" - Interview
between Dr. William Foster, past
president of the American Zoological Association, and Carol
Buckley, Founding Director of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
CONCERNING THE CHAINING OF ELEPHANTS IN CAPTIVITY
The Elephant Sanctuary opposes chaining as a tool in the management of elephants. Modern facility design alleviates the need for this archaic and physically detrimental tool. Any institution that exhibits elephants must design facilities and develop practices that enhance the caretakers' ability to provide excellent husbandry while ensuring the welfare of the elephant(s) in their care.
CONCERNING THE USE
OF PUNISHMENT BY ZOO AND CIRCUS
TRAINERS TOWARDS THEIR ELEPHANTS
Joyce Poole, internationally known expert on elephants, has stated: "I
have no idea how this myth was started, but I have never seen (wild) calves 'disciplined.'
Protected, comforted, cooed over, reassured and rescued, yes, but punished, no.
Elephants are raised in an incredibly positive and loving environment. If a younger
elephant, or in fact anyone in the family, has wronged another in some way, much
comment and discussion follows. Sounds of the wronged individual being comforted
are mixed with voices of reconciliation."
Experts maintain that "The Elephant Can Never Be Fully Domesticated" — Feb. 7, 2003
