Capacity crowd hears more about care and feeding plans for National Elephant Center in Fellsmere

March 13, 2012

SEBASTIAN — Providing protected contact to the elephants and cultivating partnerships within the local community — such as using vendors to provide food for the animals — were among the highlights of a presentation Tuesday on the National Elephant Center in Fellsmere.

The talk drew a capacity crowd at Capt. Hiram's for the March Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Chief Operating Officer Jeff Boling and Executive Director John Lehnhardt gave a shared presentation on the facility under development in Fellsmere near the Brevard County line that included the center's approach to elephant care and management. They stressed that the focus will be on "protected contact," and "positive reinforcement."

'I HAVE PERSONALLY GROWN SO WEARY OF THIS ATTITUDE. MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANY PERSON/TRAINER IN ANY OTHER SEGMENT OF THE ANIMAL INDUSTRY ALIBI OR MAKE EXCUSE'S FOR WHAT IT IS THEY DO. GEEZ, ENOUGH ALREADY. YOU ALMOST MAKE ME WONDER IF IT WAS AS BAD AS ALL THAT, IF MAYBE IT SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD.'

Lehnhardt vowed to use as many local vendors as possible. He said the center would need large amounts of hay that could be purchased from local farmers in addition to the elephant grass that would be grown on the site.

Boling said the center will potentially house between 290 and 300 elephants from about 70 Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) members, with a goal of helping those members provide better care for their elephants. The center will be funded by AZA members, and Lehnhardt estimates an annual operating budget of about $500,000, with typical annual feeding and care costs of $25,000 per elephant.

The center will offer both short- and long-term care. For example, Boling said a zoo wants to construct a new exhibit to improve the well-being of their elephants. The center could house those elephants during that construction period. The center also could provide long-term, and even permanent housing, for juvenile male elephants, as the social structure of elephants allows multiple females but only one dominant male in a family group.

Boling said every elephant at the center will receive protected contact.

"Protected contact means there is always going to be a barrier between us and the elephant," Boling said. "We accomplish this through positive reinforcement training."

Boiling used a series of illustrations to show how an elephant would submit to having blood drawn from behind its ears by approaching a "target," device, a long stick with a rubber bulb on the end, and willingly working its ear into a gap in the enclosure. While one handler accomplishes the procedure another handler offers treats to the elephant. "I call this pay for pain," Boling said.

'PAY FOR PAIN!!!! ISN'T THAT SPECIAL, JUST TOO CUTE FOR WORDS......'

Maggie Duffell of Wells Fargo Bank asked Lehnhardt about the use of bull hooks, or "guide" devices. He said some situations might require the tool, but they would be very rare and limited to medical emergencies

"In our day-to-day operation we won't be using the bull hook because we'll be using the target, and positive reinforcement to work with the animals," Lehnhardt said. "In an emergency situation where you might have to share your space with the elephants, you need to have something that will help control that elephant and keep you safe."

'WITH THE ADVENT OF ACCIDENT'S, I WOULDN'T EXPECT AN "EMERGENCY SITUATION." BUT THEN AGAIN, WHAT DO I KNOW. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, I SUPPOSE, IF SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING YOU "HAVE TO SHARE YOUR SPACE WITH THE ELEPHANT." I THOUGHT THE PC BS BAR WAS RAISED WITH "GUIDES" AND "ACCIDENT'S", BUT I WAS WRONG. IT JUST WENT TO ANOTHER PLANET.'

Boling said he expected groundbreaking at the 223-acre site to occur in the next few weeks, with the first phase of construction to be completed in seven to eight months, and the first elephants to arrive by late 2012 or early 2013.

Chamber President and CEO Beth Mitchell said the enthusiastic response at the meeting was a positive show of support from the area business community.

"This is something new for our area and we always hope for some synergy between businesses and the nonprofit community," she said.

'SYNERGY!!! SYNERGY!!!!! QUICK GET THIS BROAD ON BOARD THE PC BS BOAT BEFORE IT LEAVE'S PORT. AN ASSET FOR SURE.'

Mitchell said the presentation was "inherently positive," and gave members a strong impression that the center wants to be a good neighbor.

'I'M SERIOUS. NOTE THE EASE WITH WHICH SHE SLIDE "INHERENTLY POSITIVE" IN THERE. I SEE A NEW PC BS DICTIONARY IN THE VERY, VERY NEAR FUTURE. NO MORE ACCIDENT'S, NO MORE SHARING SPACE. INSTEAD, "HAPPENINGS" WILL BE WHAT WE CAN EXPECT......'