31st Annual Elephant Manager's Association Conference
Hosted by the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Thursday, Sept. 30 through Sunday, October 3
The 31st Annual Elephant Manager’s Association Conference could very well be one of the most important to date. In today’s internet age, elephant management is now a global effort, and this conference will feature presentations on elephant conservation and management partnerships and collaborations in the US and worldwide. Accomplishments and developments in breeding, husbandry and research, as well as challenges on many fronts, have laid the groundwork for interactive and information-rich sessions.
The conference will commence on Thursday, Sept. 30, with an icebreaker at the hotel, and conclude on Sunday evening, Oct. 3, with the “elephant olympics” and a savory barbecue and bonfire at the zoo’s 724-acre International Conservation Center. More details will follow in the EMA newsletter and web site, Connect, on Facebook, and via email.
Conference Location & Hotel Information
Holiday Inn-Allegheny Valley, RIDC180 Gamma Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-963-0600
Check-in after 3 p.m.
Check-out after noon
Attendees must make hotel reservations directly by calling the hotel and referencing the Pittsburgh Zoo - Elephant Managers Conference
Room rate is $93
Cut-off date for conference rate is: September 1, 2010
Looking for a conference roommate? Contact Terry De Iuliis for availabilities.
How to Register
Mail: Download the conference registration form here.
Online: EMA Online Registration
Have questions? Contact Terry De Iuliis at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium at 412-365-2500.
Conference Program
Thursday, Sept. 30
| 3-7 p.m. | Registration Board Room |
| 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Icebreaker Carnegie Room (downstairs by pool) Sponsored by Feld Entertainment |
| 9:30-midnight | Hospitality Suite Room TBA |
Friday, Oct. 1
| 7:30-noon | Registration Board Room |
| 7:45-8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B Sponsored by the Cincinnati Zoo |
Session 1 - Partnerships & Collaborations
Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Introductions Dr. Barbara Baker & Andrew Smith, President, EMA |
| 8:40-10 a.m. | Pittsburgh Zoo Partnerships
Dr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Partnerships in Bull Facility Design and Management Update on the North American Population Elephant Management in European Zoos Project Frozen Dumbo, ZooParc de Beauval & Pittsburgh Zoo |
| 10-10:30 a.m. | Coffee Break |
Session 2 -
Reproduction
Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B
| 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Update on Reproductive Health Status of Asian and African elephants in North America Dr. Janine Brown, Reproductive Physiologist National Zoo Why Do Elephants Express Two LH Peaks? – Another Explanation Dr. Imke Lueders Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany New Aspects on Elephant Reproduction Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt, Head of Reproductive Management Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Germany Births at Taronga Zoo, from Textbook to Miracle |
| 12:30 p.m. | Break |
| 1 p.m. | Buses Leave for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium |
| 1-3:30 p.m. | Lunch & Zoo Tour |
Session 3 -
Media Relations
Water's Edge Hall, Pittsburgh Zoo
| 3:30-5:30 p.m. | The Language of Leadership Dr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Media and Media Workshops |
| 5:30 p.m. | Reception Water's Edge Hall Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium |
| 6:30 p.m. | Dinner Water's Edge Hall Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Sponsored by Reinhart Food Service, great partners with the Pittsburgh Zoo |
| 8:30/9 p.m. | Buses back to hotel |
| 9:30-midnight | Hospitality Suite Room TBA |
Saturday, October 2
| 7:45-8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B Sponsored by the Cleveland Zoo |
Session 4 - Veterinary
Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B
| 7:45-8:30 a.m. | Continental Breakfast Sponsored by the Cleveland Zoo |
| 8-9:50 a.m. | Update on the Elephant TB Guidelines and 2010 Testing Dr. Denise Sofranko, Field Specialist for Elephants USDA Update on Elephant Endotheliotrophic Herpesviruses and Acute Hemorrhagic Disease EEHV: Brief Report of Two Cases at Saint Louis Zoo, with Priority to Preparing Elephants and Staff for an Event Genetic Variability and Prevalence of Diseases Among Wild and Captive Elephants |
| 10-10:30 a.m. | Coffee Break Sponsored by the Oregon Zoo |
Session 5 - Veterinary (cont.)
Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B
| 10:30 a.m.-noon | Lumps and Bumps on Elephants Dr. Ellen Wiedner, Director of Veterinary Services Ringling Center for Elephant Conservation The Method and Effectiveness of Liquid Nitrogen on Elephant Foot Sores Special Delivery Technically Speaking, This is Our Training Program Berlin Zoo Elephants |
| Noon-1:30 p.m. | Lunch Sponsored by the Elephant Team at the Pittsburgh Zoo |
Session 6 - Husbandry
Grand Ballroom, Salon A&B
| 1:30-3 p.m. | Seasonal Heat Storage Variations in Exercising Asian Elephants: Thermal cost of Locomotion Mike Rowe Indiana State University The Impact of a New Exhibit on the Activity Patterns of Female African Elephants at the Dallas Zoo Elephants for Africa: Education Programmes for the Future of Botswana”s Wildlife Human – Elephant Conflict Coexistence |
| 3 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Training Workshop |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Enrichment Workshop |
| 5:30 p.m. | Sessions End - Dinner on your own |
| 9:30-midnight | Hospitality Suite Room TBA |
Sunday, Oct. 3
Session 7 EMA Business Meeting
ICC
| 8 a.m. | Buses to International Conservation Center (ICC) |
| 11-noon | EMA Business Meeting |
| 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Brunch Sponsored by Somerset Trust |
Session 8 - Elephant Programs
ICC Restaurant
| 12:30-2 p.m. | European Elephant School Pat Maluy, Lead Elephant Keeper Woodland Park Zoo Abu Camp, Botswana: A Recent History Socialization of a Juvenile Male African Elephant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom |
| 2 p.m. | Tour of ICC Facilities |
| 4:30 p.m. | Barbeque Dinner & Bonfire Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Zoo and the International Conservation Center |
| 9 p.m. | Buses to Hotel |