Scholarship
Principals of Elephant Management
PEM Scholarship summary and downloadable application (both pdf and word format) are located on the right.
Elephant Ultrasound Workshop – Click here for information.
Prior Scholarship Awards and Feedback – Click here to review.
AZA Principles of Elephant Management
In an effort to promote the professional career of elephant handlers, the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) will provide up to $1,500 for tuition and expenses to the 2011 session of the Association of Zoo and Aquariums Principles of Elephant Management course (PEM) in Wheeling, WV. Candidates must currently handle elephants and have at least one year of experience. Each candidate must submit a resume and letters of confidence and support from both their institution’s Director/CEO/Owner and immediate supervisor, who is knowledgeable of the candidate’s handling skill and interest. Each candidate must also state in writing why he or she wishes to attend the PEM and what he or she hopes to gain by the experience. The IEF scholarship award winner must apply for and be accepted to the AZA Principles of Elephant Management course to be eligible for the scholarship. Scholarship selection will be based on the candidate’s elephant interest, knowledge and experience. International applicants are welcome and encouraged. The application deadline is September 24, 2010. For more information contact dolson@elephantconservation.org.
INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION
PRINCIPLES OF ELEPHANT MANAGEMENT
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
APPLICATION FORM
Deadline for Application is September 24, 2010
Please Print or type.
Name ___________________________________________ Date________________
Home Address ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________ Home Phone ( )__________
city state zip code
Title of Present Position ___________________________________________________
Name of Facility or Institution ______________________________________________
Business Address_________________________________________________________
____________________________________________ Work Phone ( )___________
city state zip code
FAX ( ) _______________E-mail ____________________________________
Please attach the following items to this scholarship application:
1) In an original brief essay (three-page maximum), please describe the following:
• the duties of your present position;
• your elephants’ behavior and their responsiveness to training;
• your facility’s elephant management goals;
• your future career goals;
• your past elephant experience (training, handling, conferences, workshops, etc.)
• how you will utilize the information learned in this course, and how it will assist you in your current and future positions as well as the elephants under your care;
• and how you will implement your training and how this information will aid in captive elephant management.
2) A written recommendation from your immediate supervisor/elephant manager regarding your interest and ability to work with elephants.
3) A resume (2 page maximum).
Signature of Applicant ______________________________________________
Date _____________
Signature of CEO/Owner ____________________________________________
Date _____________
Applications must now be submitted electronically as ONE attachment to dolson@elephantconservation.org.
All applications must be received by September 24, 2010 to be considered.
Scholarship selection will be based on the candidate’s elephant interest, knowledge and experience. International applicants are welcome and encouraged.
Conservation and Research Funding Support
Elephant Ultrasound Workshop
Ultrasound workshop summary and downloadable application are located on the right.
Principals of Elephant Management – Click here for information.
Prior Scholarship Awards and Feedback – Click here to review.
Ultrasound Workshop for Zoo and Wildlife Professionals Scholarship
Download ELEPHANT ULTRASOUND WORKSHOP APPLICATION HERE
Hands-on breeding soundness and general health evaluations will be performed using the sanctuary’s 11 elephants – male and female, African and Asian elephants. The workshop may also allow participants to monitor a pregnancy of a female elephant.
This unique course in ultrasound technology will be taught by world-renowned veterinarian Dr. Dennis Schmitt, DVM, PhD, from Southwest Missouri State University (SMSU) located in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Schmitt is one of the pioneers in the field of adapting modern technology to better assess elephants for medical and reproductive procedures.
Indianapolis Zoo Veterinarian Jeff Proudfoot, DVM, wrote, “It exceeded all expectations and truly was one of the best workshops I’ve attended as a veterinarian. Dr. Schmitt is an outstanding individual and teacher. Scott and Heidi Riddle and their staff were wonderful hosts – patient with a bunch of rookie, wannabe elephant ultrasonographers, and willing to share their vast experience and knowledge of elephant husbandry.
Each day started with breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m. and general discussions among participants covering a wide range of topics. Class began at 8 a.m. and finished around 10:30 p.m. Yes, 10:30 p.m. We generally never finished ultrasound exams before 6:30 p.m. Formal workshop activities included ultrasound exams, semen collection, videotape reviews of clinical cases, power point presentations, and roundtable discussions. We broke for an hour lunch and an hour dinner each day but usually continued discussions in small groups while we ate. They have a bunkhouse where all participants stayed (very comfortable rooms) and next to that was the kitchen/classroom. We spent probably an average of 8 hours per day performing hands-on ultrasound exams. By having both Asian and African elephants as well as cows and bulls of each species, the Sanctuary provided an ideal situation.”
Tina DeMedeiros, CVT, Buttonwood Park Zoo, Principal of Elephant Management scholar-2006
I am writing to express my sincerest thanks to you for providing the 2006 scholarship to the AZA principles of elephant management school. The school was a great opportunity to share experiences among peers, solve problems and acquire new ideas. Every topic was discussed from behavior to veterinary care. I really enjoyed the open discussions and group projects that brought everyone closer together. I feel the knowledge that I gained will only contribute to my pursuit in continuing to provide excellent care to our elephants.
When I returned back home, I decided to implement what I had learned and contacted our local hospital for assistance with a portable radiograph. In April, we were able to get digital radiographs of our elephant’s feet. My latest endeavor is to start a health committee for the elephant managers association, in hopes of connecting a wealth of knowledge among all elephant caregivers.
It is an honor to be recognized for my hard work and receiving this scholarship motivates me to continue to strive for excellence. I will be forever grateful to the International Elephant Foundation for its generosity.
Sincerely,
Tina DeMedeiros, CVT, Buttonwood Park Zoo
Prior Scholarship Feedback
Dr. R. C. Rajapaksa, Pinnawala
Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka
Dr. R. C. Rajapaksa Ultrasound-scholar-2005
I successfully finished the 2005 Elephant Ultrasonography and Veterinary Procedures workshop and returned back on day before yesterday. All the staff of the Riddle’s Elephant Sanctuary with Mr. and Mrs. Riddle and Prof. Dennis Schmitt were very helpful and treated me very well. As our elephant orphanage is going to start an elephant hospital in the Elephant Orphanage, this training and experience that I gained from this workshop is very, very useful. I like to thank the International Elephant Foundation for giving me the opportunity to participate in this workshop by offering the scholarship to me. I like to keep in touch with the IEF in our future work.
Thank you very much.
Dr. R. C. Rajapaksa