One of the claims made by proponents of the circus-style training system known as "free contact," which relies on use of the bullhook to control elephants, is that elephants in free contact receive better veterinary care than those in "protected contact" management, which is what we practice at PAWS. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have worked with elephants in both free and protected contact, and have a broad base of experience in caring for them. So I welcome this opportunity to share with you information about PAWS' comprehensive program of veterinary care for the elephants living at the ARK 2000 sanctuary.

All of the elephants at PAWS are trained and managed in protected contact which uses only positive reinforcement training. The elephant care team and veterinary care staff interact with elephants through a barrier which protects both humans and elephants. The elephants are trained to voluntarily cooperate with us with food treats and words of praise as their reward for moving into and holding a specific body position. Elephants at PAWS are never punished or disciplined for any behavior.

In contrast, free contact describes a management system where human handlers occupy the same space with elephants, using no barriers, and use a bullhook (aka ankus or "guide") on sensitive areas of an elephant's body to cue desired behaviors. This method of training is used in circuses, elephant rides, and in almost every context where you see a trainer physically interacting with an elephant with no protective barrier.

As part of PAWS' comprehensive preventative medicine program, blood samples are collected at least twice a year from each elephant. Elderly or frail elephants are sampled monthly, or as often as necessary to monitor health status. Elephants stand next to a protective barrier and position their ear in a specially designed opening in the barrier. Elephants have thin skin and many large veins behind their ears - evolutionary adaptations to help them cool off in the heat. Blood samples are easily collected from an ear vein when an elephant is properly trained. The protective wall keeps the staff and veterinarian safe when working close to an elephant. Before a veterinarian can do a blood draw, a trainer must first get the elephant into the proper position by "stationing" the elephant with the soft target while rewarding with food and/or praise. Our elephants are so comfortable with blood collection that we could draw it daily if needed.

Even briefly uncomfortable medical procedures such as skin biopsies, lancing of abscesses, intravenous and intramuscular injections, vaccinations, and enemas

can easily be performed in protected contact once an elephant has learned the behavior necessary for that procedure.

We are also asked if the elephants ever just walk away and refuse to cooperate with us. The fact is, they can because their engagement with us is voluntary. (Elephants can also refuse to cooperate with trainers in free contact, as was seen with Nicholas, though it is usually at a painful cost.) These are very large, strong animals with an abundance of intelligence, individual personalities, and free will. In protected contact elephants have the freedom to choose whether or not to participate, as they are never dominated or coerced in any way. With proper reward-based training, they are usually both willing and eager participants in their own health care. Elephants almost always look forward to interacting with us, and we are usually able to perform the procedure or obtain the desired sample. Even a bull in musth, like Nicholas, looks forward to "working" with us.