Elephants Elephants - Wildpro - Twycross Zoo

6.1.2 Appendix 1.1: Calf Training 1
Elephant Calf Training at The North of England Zoological Society,
Chester Zoo
Planning the training for an elephant calf is extremely important and at
Chester this begins before the calf is born. The main trainer is decided upon at
this early stage as is the chaining point for the calf. The trainer teaches the calf
new behaviours and builds a special bond with the calf. The other keepers are
handlers for this calf reinforcing already taught behaviours in the absence of
the trainer.
The calf’s training starts as soon as the excitement of the birth is over. The
trainer and other keepers slowly get the calf used to close human proximity.
This gradual and calm process allows the mother to trust the keepers and to
understand that no harm will come
to her calf. This is especially
important for a nervous and new
mothers.
Naming the calf is very important
and a name should be decided
upon at a very early stage. The calf
will gradually get used to contact
with the trainer and the handlers
with the trainer using the calf’s
name more, calling it and
rewarding it as soon as a response
is made to its name. The calf will
start to associate with the trainer
and its name calling. The calf’s first
command is “NAME COME
HERE” and it is given constantly
on the handlers’ approach, as soon
as the calf begins to approach the
handler in response to its name it is
rewarded. Rewards are praise and
a treat item such as a few pieces of chopped apple.
Once the calf will consistently come to the handler when called, the next step
in the training is taken. The handler gets the calf used to being touched, this
desensitises the calf to human contact. Initially the trunk is concentrated on
moving on to the head, the front and back legs and then gently holding the
tail. This desensitisation of the calf to human proximity and contact is built on
until the calf will allow the trunk to be held for some period of time.
The command “NO” is also introduced early in training and is clearly very
important. Any undesired behaviour from the calf such as running at or
1 This is a new section
Fig. 1. Desensitisation allows the trunk
to be grasped and held for some period
of time. This is essential for later
procedures such as the ‘trunk up’
command.
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