Consultation Services

Each and every elephant facility is unique and has their own set of circumstances. Experience has shown us that quick, ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions do not exist in the captive elephant world. What is best for the elephants in one facility may not be for the elephants in another. Elephation strives to find practical, sustainable, and affordable solutions that best suit the needs of your facility, your staff, and your elephants. 

Positive reinforcement training is relationship focused, meaning that trust and respect need to be earned; not forced, coerced, or demanded. This holds true for elephants and humans alike. Authentic relationships take time.  Implementing a successful and sustainable positive reinforcement training program takes time. Real, lasting change takes time. For these reasons, Elephation only offers long term consultation, typically three to six months in duration. 

As we’ve mentioned before, although positive reinforcement training appears cut and dry, it can get surprisingly nuanced and complicated! Elephation works one on one with mahouts and staff to ensure a solid understanding of operant conditioning principle. We will leave you with the tools to train, maintain, and troubleshoot behavior, strengthen elephant/caretaker relationships, and  make informed decisions about alternative ways to manage your herd. Technology makes it easy for us to stay in touch with you after the consultation to work through any issues or problems that may arise. 

We  understand that attending to the physical, mental, and emotional needs of elephants is expensive, and most facilities cannot afford typical consultation fees. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Elephation desires to help. If you are a facility who is interested in our consulting services, please contact us using the form below. We’d love to hear from you, see if our services are a good fit, and come to an affordable arrangement that pleases everyone. We look forward to hearing from you.