- Zoos: A Historical Perspective from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
The National Zoological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
AZA
Marie Galloway, Elephant Manager
Elephant Trails
What do you do? What are your main responsibilities?
I am responsible for developing and maintaining the elephant management program. However, that is a job that cannot be done alone! It takes a team of professional trainers to handle elephants. My job is to direct the team and the management of elephants so that we can care for elephants in the best manner possible.
How long have you worked with animals? How long have you worked at National Zoo?
More than 20 years.
How did you get started?
I always wanted to work with animals, especially anything involving training. However, most animal-related jobs either required experience that I did not have and could not get, or paid very poorly. After many years of working in a few different fields, I decided that liking my job was more important than making a lot of money. So, I did what I could to gain experience so that I could apply for a position as a zoo keeper.
I worked as a veterinary assistant for a year just to qualify to volunteer as a keeper aide. For another year I volunteered at the Great Ape House five mornings a week, worked as a security guard in the afternoon so that I could pay my bills, and in the evening I continued to work at an animal hospital! On weekends, I only worked eight hours a day at the animal hospital. Finally, I was hired for what was formerly called the North Mammal Unit—large mammals, hardy hoof, delicate hoof, and pandas.
I knew I wanted to work with elephants as soon as I learned about them, and I spent every spare moment I had with the elephant keepers, shoveling, cleaning and watching as much as they would let me. Eventually they gave me a permanent position (mostly because I did well with the elephants) and five years later I had become the elephant manager.
What do you like most about your job?
I love training. I love it when people and animals work together to accomplish a goal. I like knowing that I have not only made a difference in the lives of the elephants that live here at the National Zoo, but that I have made a significant contribution to how elephants are managed under human care in North America. I think that the changes I have helped to establish would have happened eventually anyway, but I am grateful and proud that I have been a part of this progress.
Equally importantly, I love sharing my life with elephants, and knowing them like most people know their friends and family. I feel that this is an incredible privilege that I am lucky to have!
What do you like least?
Not much! Being accused of wrongdoing by people who assume that elephant keepers either have evil intentions or are ignorant of elephant care. Being watched every moment of every day. Not being able to use vacation or sick leave freely, and therefore, not being there as much as I would like for my daughter.
What is a typical day like for you?
Of course, a day is rarely typical and there is always a long list of other projects! But here's what we usually do each day.
| 6:30 | As soon as we arrive, we check on all the elephants and the exhibit. Then we read the previous day's keeper reports and check emails for relevant information. Ambika is called over to separate her from Shanthi so that she can enjoy eating some of her food at her preferred leisurely pace. Since Ambika is getting older and is having some difficulties with chewing her food properly, we cut up hay into small pieces just for her. She eats a half bale of this chopped hay in the morning. Depending on their behavior, Kandula and Shanthi might spend some social time together. We give all the elephants some hay to eat while we clean the habitats and barn. |
| 7:30 | Next we bathe and scrub each elephant, perform health checks, training sessions, and foot care. Once a week we weigh the elephants. We collect samples of blood, urine, fecals, and body temperature as needed (not daily). Each elephant gets a small portion of its diet as reward for participating in the morning management routine. Typically, Kandula is handled first and then is sent outside into habitat 2 and 3 to play with some enrichment toys and eat some more hay. Once we are finished working with the girls, Kandula is given just one habitat and the girls go out into the other habitat. |
| 9:30 | Now is time to catch up on other work. We finish cleaning the barn, process any samples collected and record any behavioral information. We work on creating new enrichment items, chop hay, check in the food deliveries, and do other work. |
| 11 | We perform a training demonstration at the Outpost with either Ambika and Shanthi or Kandula. We alternate which elephant participates in the demo. They receive a small portion of their diet as reward for participating in the demo. |
| 11:15 | After the demo, the elephants take a walk through the woods on the trek. This is great exercise that is fun for the elephants! They receive a small portion of their diet as reward for walking to the top of the trek. When they return to the habitat, they get another receive a small portion of their diet, along with more hay and/or enrichment. |
| 11:45 | Then it’s back up to habitat 2 for a training session with whichever elephant(s) did not participate in the demo. These elephants also receive a small portion of their diet as reward for participation as well as more hay and/or enrichment. |
| 12 | The elephants have been eating all morning, and are still eating. Now the keepers get to eat! |
| 1 | In the afternoon, we perform more training and/or exercise sessions with each elephant. As always they eat some more hay, produce, and grain! Ambika is given some additional time by herself so that she can again enjoy eating at her preferred leisurely pace. |
| 2 | All the elephants come into the barn while the keepers clean the habitats and set up hay, enrichment, and food to last through the night. On alternating nights either the girls or Kandula has access to the habitats and one or two stalls. Whoever doesn’t have the habitat that night gets the paddock and other stalls. |
| 3 | There is one last check of the exhibit and the elephants, reports are written, tomorrow's diets prepared, and the keeper area and elephant food storage areas are cleaned. |
| 5 or 6:30 | The timing of the last task depends on the season. The late shift keeper does a final check, says “goodnight” to the elephants, and leaves, knowing they will be happy eating, playing, and sleeping until we return in the morning. |
What's the most interesting thing about the animals you work with?
The most interesting thing... is that there is no end to interesting things! Elephants are amazingly intelligent, perceptive individuals.
What's your favorite animal in the world and why?
Elephants and dogs.
Elephants never cease to be fascinating. I enjoy watching and learning how such intelligent, social, and adaptable creatures interact with each other, with people, with other animals and with their environment. They are so different from us, but yet, in many ways they are so similar to us, and they are so willing to share their lives with humans, if only we give them the chance.
Dogs—I don't know—I just love 'em!
