Connor D. Email & Phone Number

Following the completion of a BSc Animal Behaviour degree in 2020, I went on to undertake two ‘animal husbandry’ internships at Chester Zoo; one being with hoofstock, with a focus on giraffe, and the other being with Asian elephants. Both experiences provided an insight to animal management, training, nutrition, and enrichment, and propelled me into a career with elephants. In May of 2021, I moved to Bristol to become a Trainee Elephant Keeper with bull African elephants.As a Trainee Elephant Keeper, I learnt how to directly interact with elephants (through stationing and basic training; targeting, tusk management, washes, tail care, etc), drive company vehicles, public speaking through daily talks and experiences, enclosure maintenance, and conduct behavioural studies. In April of 2022, I was promoted to Elephant Keeper; this has led to further development - help to oversee support staff/volunteer development and training with my colleagues, and learning more delicate aspects of elephant care, including footcare. In the time I’ve been at Noah’s Ark Zoo, I’ve been able to witness the arrival and successful introduction of two young bulls to an established group, open an additional 10-acre habitat which includes a 500sqft plantation to allow for natural browsing to promote more natural behaviours; write an article about the Elephant Eden facility and programme for ABWAK’s Ratel, and attend BIAZA sub-group meetings for elephants. I conduct the elephant sections quarterly behavioural studies for the Elephant Welfare Group and ZIMS data entries. In April 2024, I was promoted to Keeper Level 2.Educational knowledge includes the evolution and adaptive function of behaviour in the wild, the social and cognitive development through experiences, adaptations to the environment, amongst topics such as wildlife forensics (the detection and investigation), and marine animal behaviour. This undergraduate degree was studied from September 2017 until June 2020 at the University of Chester. I look forward to continuing my career with elephants into the future and I am open to further learning opportunities to enhance my knowledge and experiences to benefit my role and elephant welfare.

Listed skills include Animal Husbandry, Teamwork, Animal Behaviour, Animal Behavior, and 2 others.

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  University Of Chester

  First Class 1