Elephant training starts anew after founder's firing.

Before founding The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, Buckley operated her own elephant management company, Tarra Productions, performing throughout the US, Canada and abroad in a number of circuses, including Circus Gatini in Quebec, Canada, and the Big Apple Circus in New York City.

She has worked and consulted with zoos, including African Lion Safari and Bowmanville Zoo in Ontario, Canada; the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin; and the Chehaw Wild Animal Park in Albany, Georgia. She has also created and managed elephant programs for Marriott’s Great America Theme Park, Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park, Santa Barbara Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Nashville Zoo and Granby Zoo.

Elephant Aid International : One World...One Elephant at a Time

Marnie was 3 years old. She learned to pick up her left foot on command, but became confused when being trained to lift the right. The sharp metal hook dug into the back of her wrist, causing her to trip and fall to her elbows. Her mind raced, her fear rose and she wanted to run away, but the metal hook was suddenly embedded in her jaw. She could not escape! Scrambling to her feet, she felt the hook pierce the tender flesh of her ankle again. In an effort to escape the pain, she lifted both front feet from the ground at the same time, pulling them from the reach of the hook. The trainer marveled at his own genius.

The phrase ‘wild animal training’ conjures images of dancing bears, snarling lions, costumed elephants walking on their hind legs, and killer whales performing in aquatic parks, circuses and zoos worldwide. Regardless of what training methods are used, wild animals have traditionally been trained for human entertainment.

Wild animal training has evolved over the past 2 decades, incorporating more humane methods. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of elephant trainers have adopted them.
Breaking tradition is difficult in any culture. Changing the training methodology and deeply ingrained practices that have grown around elephant training and management poses a challenge that many are unable, or unwilling, to embrace. Thus, very many trainers cling to familiar, if antiquated, practices of control that employ pain, intimidation and deprivation.
Elephant training: 2 systems
Elephant training systems are divided into 2 categories: dominance and non-dominance. Elephants respond to both systems, but the impact the 2 systems have on their psyche and well-being is quite different.
Elephant management practices in Asia vary slightly from region to region and country to country, but there is one common element: the use of dominance in capturing, training and managing the elephants.
Making the transition from dominance-based training to non-dominance is not difficult. Even an elephant who has known only dominance management can transition from dominance to non-dominance effortlessly when given the opportunity. Once an elephant receives a reward from the trainer for co-operating during training, he/she immediately comprehends the concept.

Dominance training: autonomy lost
Mimicking his supervisor, an apprentice trainer bellows a command as he strikes the elephant across the leg with the heavy handle of his bullhook. The elephant squeals in fear as she recoils from him. She wants to co-operate, but never seems to move fast enough to appease her trainer. Resigned to the futility of her efforts, she gives up, stops responding to his commands and mindlessly accepts his brutality.

Dominance training is the traditional method widely used with elephants held in captivity. In this system, the trainer uses force, pain and deprivation to gain dominance and control. Elephants quickly learn that co-operation and obedience are required for their survival.

They lose their autonomy and come to understand that their entire existence is dependent on the trainer, who provides food, water, shelter and companionship. Dominance training causes elephants to live most of their lives ‘on guard’, waiting for instruction from the trainer, with little undistracted time to themselves. Obedience makes their existence livable, but only marginally so.

Non-dominance training: freedom to choose
Although Chang Yim is only 17 months old, it took only a short 10 minute training session for him to learn to place his foot against a target when asked. (The target is a flexible pole with a ‘spongy’ end). Now, when he hears the word “caw” (foot), he quickly touches the target with his foot and receives praise and a piece of banana. It is an easy exercise for such an intelligent pachyderm mind. After only 1 week of twice-daily training sessions, Chang Yim responds to requests for his forehead, front feet, back feet, ear flap and hip, always touching the appropriate body part to the target voluntarily.

Non-dominance training, which has become more accepted over the past 15 years, is based on learning theory and uses positive reinforcement. It provides elephants with autonomy and the freedom to make their own choices, allowing them to flourish.
Elephants quickly learn that there is no punishment or discipline in non-dominance training. As a result, they relax and engage in the process. They are able to concentrate more intensely than when being dominated, because they are not fearful or resistant.

The target: a focal point
Non-dominance training starts with the target used to shape behaviors, a whistle and a reward. The purpose of the target is to create a focal point, a benign object for the elephant to focus on. Initially the trainer gently touches a part of the elephant’s body with the target. Then the whistle blows, and a reward -- something tasty like a piece of banana – is given. The elephant quickly connects the whistle with the touch and, of course, the reward. Throughout the training, the target touches different parts of the elephant’s body -- foot, ear, head, leg and side -- following the same process, giving each body part a name.
The elephant quickly learns the terminology, voluntarily placing the requested body part against the target. An elephant is never told “no”, and can never fail. Elephants participate freely in the training, making their own decision whether or not they wish to participate. If at any point the elephant chooses not to participate, he or she simply walks away without any reprimanded. Allowing elephants to choose without punishment helps boost their self-confidence and willingness to engage in the training. Done properly, the training becomes a much-anticipated activity.

Non-dominance training acknowledges, respects, and takes advantage of elephant intelligence. Trainers schooled in dominance training often have difficulty embracing the concept of elephants having autonomy and freedom of choice, 2 essential components of the non-dominance system. But if the trainer grasps the concept and masters non-dominance techniques, his/her perspective often changes to respect and admiration.

Elephant training culture worldwide is experiencing a shift. Asia has yet to embrace non-dominance management due to lack of exposure. As efforts to teach non-dominance techniques reach more mahouts, they will see the positive results as their jobs - and the lives of their elephants - improve.
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"Target training is useless for anything other then a protected contact situation. Even in a protected contact situation it is only about 90% effective, if you have unlimited time and are asking for limited responses." But if you are tired of riding your horse, or lunging him, or otherwise looking for something different and fun, teaching him to touch the target and receive a reward may be just the ticket. Horse whisper's are realizing a new cash windfall teaching target training, liberty playing, and various other natural gadgets, gizmo's, and do dad's. Spend, spend, but more importantly, have fun with the new "natural" method. Fun is all it accomplishes.