Florida elephant preserve
In 2013, I was invited to visit The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC for short) and given access to the elephants, the staff and the facility to observe the care of the animals.
CEC is located on 200 acres in central Florida, but the exact location is top secret. The general public is not allowed on to the grounds in order to protect the animals. The center was established in 1995 to create an environment dedicated to the research, reproduction and retirement of the endangered Asian elephant.
Fighting extinction
Since its inception, the staff of CEC has presided over the birth of 20 elephants and built the program into one of the most successful Asian elephant breeding programs outside of Southeast Asia. Fewer than 35,000 Asian elephants remain in the world, putting the animal in grave danger of extinction. While the elephants at CEC will always remain in captivity, the research and educational opportunities offered at the center may help Asian elephants once again thrive in the wild.
I was accompanied on my tour by several staff members including Director of Animal Stewardship Janice Aria and Trudy Williams, Ringling’s Manager of Animal Stewardship. Aria has been with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey since 1972 and has been director of CEC since 2006. She directs the student intern program, teaches training methods to animal handlers and is involved in the care of the elephants.
As part of a show business family, Williams literally grew up with elephants in her backyard. She has raised many elephants from infancy into adulthood, so her relationship with the elephants is a very personal one.
Perception versus reality
The love Aria and Williams have for the animals is clear as we tour the facility. They answer my questions patiently as we drive. More importantly, they demonstrate the love and respect they have for the elephants in their care.
At one point, Trudy invites me to enter a paddock and interact with one of the elephants. The beautiful animal is huge, her skin rough and soft at the same time. Her eyes are sweet and she gently takes carrots from my hand while allowing me to stroke her ears and head. There is no fear from her, no recoiling upon touch or evidence that she has any mistrust of humans. She eagerly interacts with me, even nuzzling my shoulder at one point.
In another barn I meet baby elephant Piper and her mother Shirley. Standing about three feet tall, Piper comes to the gate eager to play with the cooing adults gathered around. Shirley keeps a watchful eye on Piper but remains gentle, never moving toward us or showing any signs of distress.
This scene of happy, healthy elephants is played out over and over on the immaculate (and odor-free!) grounds. Depending on their health, age, sex and training, the elephants have different living conditions. The males are sequestered with each having their own barn and roaming area to avoid fights over territory and food. Some of the females are in tight knit groups—they have formed friendships and thrive in close proximity to their pals.
Food for thought
My time at CEC certainly gave me food for thought. I began the day assuming wild animals weren’t as happy being cared for by humans as they might be in the wild.
When I voiced that concern to Janice Aria her response was thoughtful. According to Aria, “Our society has no problem training dogs, for instance–we walk them on leashes, keep them in crates when we’re out of the house and otherwise mold them to our lives. Is it different for an elephant to be trained and then live in captivity where he is well cared for, treated with kindness and given love and respect?”