The intent of the Elephant Care Program is to provide exceptional whole life care for The Sanctuary’s resident elephants. We strive to expand and improve opportunities for elephants to thrive and to support elephants as they age relevant to Sanctuary resources and infrastructure.

The Elephant Caregiver is a member of the elephant husbandry team providing quality daily care, social and herd opportunity, nutrition, and treatments using Protected Contact and Positive Reinforcement for aging African and Asian elephants housed at The Sanctuary. Caregivers play an important role in maintaining the elephant barns and habitats to provide safe and secure housing.

Position Objectives

• Actively participate with The Sanctuary team supporting all aspects of daily and year-round elephant and facility care.
• Ensure best possible wellness practices to meet the changing health and social needs of elephants as they age. Prepare for and manage end of life palliative care and ensure quality of life.
• Manage seasonal elephant care requirements to the best of our ability.
• Employ “Protected Contact” best practice elephant management through Positive Reinforcement.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Elephant Care

• Safely and efficiently work directly with elephants to effectively provide daily care in barns and habitats.
• Prepare and provide daily diets and medications in accordance with animal care protocols and related safety guidelines.
• Observe and interpret elephant behavior and diet consumption, report significant changes. Adapt with seasonal changes and elephant health status.
• Develop proficiency in implementation of treatment(s), foot care, and preventative care in collaboration with the Veterinary team.
• Promote elephant autonomy, social opportunity, and herd building dynamics.
• Assist in the procurement, preparation and delivery of browse, and other forms of enrichment.
• Provide husbandry training support for elephants to maintain and teach behaviors required to meet elephant program objectives.
• Prepare for and manage geriatric and end of life elephant care circumstances.

Facilities & Supplies

• Monitor, inspect and maintain elephant and safety infrastructure (e.g., barns, fence, gates) and report breakage/failures in a timely manner to supervisor.
• Provide daily cleaning and upkeep of elephant facilities, including barns, service areas, habitats, and other related infrastructure.
• Implement seasonal procedural changes for barn and habitat management, as directed.
• Ensure work areas, access, parking, and offices are cleaned and maintained daily in a safe, neat, and orderly fashion.
• Assist in unloading and storage of feed and hay deliveries.
• Monitor and maintain feed and husbandry supplies. Order supplies as needed and requested.
• Perform daily basic maintenance safety checks on vehicles and equipment; report as requested.

Safety

Understand and participate with all assigned safety training protocols for The Sanctuary and department.

• Safely operate ATVs, vehicles and equipment on roads, trails and in habitats, per established protocols.
• Perform elephant care tasks in accordance with existing safety guidelines; maintain constant awareness of elephants and co-worker proximity.
• Participate in elephant escape, elephant down, and other emergency training protocols as requested.

Administrative / Other

• Maintain daily animal care and observation logs and record keeping.
• Adhere to weekly schedules for both daily animal care and night feedings, as weather requires.
• Actively participate in barn meetings to ensure daily goals are understood and met.
• Monitor Ele-cam location and provide appropriate reporting.
• Represent The Elephant Sanctuary in internal and local community and public events as required.
• Provide written updates for internal newsletter (Ele-buzz) and other communications as needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

SUCCESS FACTORS AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Team Oriented – Develop cooperative working relationships with other Sanctuary employees, departments, senior management.
• Good Communicator – Communicate respectfully and effectively with others. Good verbal and written communication skills. Report internal and/or external issues and concerns to supervisor.
• Self-Motivated – Perform the job responsibilities with minimal supervision, takes initiative without direction. Strong work ethic and professional demeanor. Ability to recognize and understand issues and problems, then resolve them in a practical manner.
• Dependable and Reliable – Come to work and be on time. Follow procedures and maintain accurate records related to all aspects of elephant care and all areas of responsibility.
• Training – Identify and engage in ongoing professional development. Develop self-training plan with supervisor and play a support role to help train co-workers.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES:

• Three years combined volunteer, intern or paid experience working with exotic or native wildlife. Elephant experience preferred. Significant domestic large animal experience will be considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. A combination of experience and education is acceptable.
• Animal training experience working in protected contact and positive reinforcement systems is preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License, insurable to drive company vehicles, and ability to provide own transportation to/from work.
• Preferred equipment & tool operating experience including mowers, weed-eaters, chainsaws, and power tools. Heavy equipment operation a plus (skid steer loaders, farm tractors).
• Preferred vehicle operating experience including 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must be able to stand/work for 8 hours in all weather conditions.
• Must be able to lift 50lbs repeatedly during loading/unloading supplies.
• Must be able to perform repetitive manual tasks, (cutting produce, pressure washing, raking).