When you look after an elephant, poop is just part of the job. This week I got do just that. I went up to Hogle Zoo and learned first hand what it's like to be an elephant keeper.
My first job - Pachyderm Poop Patrol.
Every morning elephant keepers at Hogle Zoo start their day cleaning up after elephants Hy Dari, Christie, and baby Zuri. They scoop up poop in massive piles. The morning I was there I personally helped scoop up two wheelbarrows full. If you added up all the animals at the zoo, keepers tell me they clean up 600- 800 lbs daily. They say it's important for the elephants to have a clean area each day. Even in the winter time they'll come out of their holding building and out into the open area. What's interesting is the cemented portions of that area are all heated. The elephants at Hogle Zoo come from Africa, they don't like it when it's cold. So this helps them to get out, stretch their legs, and stay warm at the same time.
I also learned the keepers do not have direct physical contact with the elephants unless there is some type of barrier between them. It's safer for the keepers, and more humane for the elephants. If the elephants don't want a bath day, they can just walk away.
Here's another cool thing, everyday keepers have elephants perform tricks, but it's not just for show. It's part of the elephant's training. It helps build a working relationship with the elephants, so when they need medical attention, or grooming the elephants are familiar with their keepers and more likely to cooperate.
Working with the elephants was definitely a lot of fun. It's hard not to love baby Zuri, especially when you ask her to perform a trick and she responds. I was just glad we did the story in the cool fall air. During the summer, when it's hot out, 800 lbs of poop doesn't smell too good.
