I have always dreamt of encountering elephants up close, and while I put this on my bucket list in the hopes that one day I would get the opportunity to meet them, I actually never really thought it would happen – until I landed a job working at a Zoo!

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Since my childhood, I have been mesmerized by the grandeur and majesty of elephants. Their sheer size, intelligence, and awe-inspiring presence have always captivated my imagination. I dreamed of encountering these incredible creatures up close, and imagined what it would be like looking up at their incredible eyes, touching their trunks and hearing them make trumpeting sounds.

Working at a zoo was an adventure in itself – I’m such an animal lover so every week I would have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would never, ever have anywhere else! I remember being in the vet when a large male orangutan was having a regular health check up and as he was safely under general aesthetic laying on the table I remember just looking at his hands and thinking “there is no way on this beautiful green planet that I would have the opportunity to safely do this if I didn’t work here”. But the biggest highlight of my time there was the first time (actually – every time) I got to get up close to the two female Asian Elephants.

Little myth busting before we go any further: there are some people that think Zoo’s are bad, that they torture and mistreat animals and that animals are made to perform for visitors. I’m sure there are some out there that aren’t in it for the right reasons, but if you visit an accredited zoo, like the one I worked at, you know that they’re in it for the right reasons – conservation and education – and that the animals receive world-class health care and are treated with love and respect. In fact, I found that when I worked there the animals were like an extension of our families. We’re in an era of mass extinction and its through accredited zoo’s that species have a fighting chance of survival and that we can educate current and future generations on how to secure a future for wild animals in wild places so that they’re not just found in a zoo.

On my first week on the job I was whisked away by the Close Encounter team to join the Asian Elephant encounter. I was so excited I could barely contain the butterflies in my tummy. I have been in love with elephants for as long as I can remember. I have always found these animals to be magnificent – the way they’re community minded, they have big feelings and will mourn the loss of their loved ones just like us, and that they’re super intelligent. Once we walked through the gates to the back of the elephant exhibit I found myself standing before these gentle giants, watching them quietly making their way towards us (you’d be surprised how quiet an Elephant walking actually is!). The amazing zoo keepers introduced me to the two female elephants and explained the dos and don’ts of interaction with these magnificent beings. After all, we need to be respectful of everyone we meet – human and animal alike.

First time feeding an Elephant

You’re probably wondering what it’s like to feed an Elephant, right? Well, it’s surreal, amazing and – depending if you go all in – it can be rather sloppy! I can still remember the sensation of their trunks curling around my hand to delicately pluck the food from my palm or even guide my hand into their mouth to gently place their favourite treat inside! It’s an incredibly out-of-this-world experience watching their eyes meet yours and reflect an unspoken trust (and probably curiosity) all the while you’re feeding them. Once you’ve had the experience of feeding an Elephant, there’s no way you won’t leave that encounter more in love with them – if that’s even possible!

Watching an Elephant walk through a Zoo

OK, so I still find I pinch myself whenever I recall any of the times I saw the two female elephants safely walking through the zoo accompanied by their keepers. I actually started to come to work earlier to make sure I caught these two ladies on their morning walks! The ladies would take their time inspecting every nook and cranny of the zoo and were sure to even help the horticulture team out by “trimming” (aka eating) leaves from very specific trees and bushes around the zoo. I would just find myself standing nearby taking all the photos and videos I possibly could and then just putting my camera down and just admiring them and their presence. It’s truly amazing how such large animals can be so quiet. And then there would be others time where I would be on the sidelines within inches of these two graceful, magnificent and absolute gentle giants as they strutted their stuff and walked by me, locking eyes with me just to let me know they see me and they’re unfazed by my presence. Honestly, every time I made eye contact with them my smile got bigger – if that was even possible!

What my experience interacting with Elephants taught me

Interacting with elephants has taught me many things, like that it’s better to trust ourselves and others rather than expecting the worst and holding ourselves back, that while we are the the biggest presence in our own lives that we need to be mindful of how situations and actions impact others, and that we should always be looking out for each other. Elephants can also be very cheeky and I was so incredibly fortunate to witness an elephant play a trick on one of the keepers and then proceed to laugh! Yep, I heard an elephant laugh and it is one of the best sounds in this world that I’ll remember forever and it reminded me to laugh often (and maybe to never lose our inner child). Another thing I have learned from elephants is to always be curious and never stop learning. Elephants are incredibly intelligent and there were plenty of times I was lucky enough to be invited by the elephant keepers to come and film an enrichment and training session with the gentle giants. I recall one in particular with the Bull Elephant where the keeper would call out numbers that related to a specific mentally and physically enriching activity for the Bull Elephant complete, and without making a mistake he would do the correct activity – every time. Another lesson is never stop being creative. Elephants are natural artists and will often pick up sticks and “draw” in the dirt, so at the zoo the behaviour has been expanded to include painting where the elephants are given animal friendly and non-toxic paint, paint brushes and canvases where they can create their masterpieces. So reminded to always make time to be creative and do the creative things that bring me joy.

Working in a conservation-minded environment and having the opportunities to interact with various exotic species has taught me the importance of being environmentally conscious and respectful of all life on this planet. I have come to appreciate the remarkable adaptability and resilience of elephants and the crucial role they play in maintaining ecological balance. Being in close proximity to these magnificent animals has transformed my perspective on life and strengthened my passion for raising awareness of their situation. Elephants face numerous challenges, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict, making their conservation a complex and daunting task. Therefore, it is up to us to ensure that we do not contribute to their decline by participating in activities that lead to their decline. This can include ensuring that you’re not buying ivory or other illegal wildlife products that will only encourage poachers to harm more elephants.

Also, if you want some elephant content on your social media feeds, be sure to check out the amazing work of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, they are an amazing not-for-profit rescuing Kenya’s orphaned elephants and rhinos to help secure a future for them and their species. You can even adopt an elephant in their care and help fund their care as well as the vital work the organisation does. Win win!

Whilst I no longer work at the Zoo, I am so incredibly grateful for all the animal encounters I was so fortunate to have and I will forever cherish the moments the animals allowed me to enter their world. And I will always treasure the memories of my time with the elephants.

Much love,
Lara X

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