Frequently Asked Questions about the Elephant Managers Association

Who We Are

What is the Elephant Managers Association (EMA)'s mission?

• EMA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare and survival of the world's elephants through improving communication, husbandry, research, education, and conservation. 
• EMA is the largest collection of elephant experts and enthusiasts in the world.

How does the EMA act out its mission?

• EMA's goals include: (1) to promote and advance the profession of elephant training and management; (2) to promote research on elephant behavior, training, and husbandry; (3) to promote conservation issues related to elephants; (4) to promote high standards of safety and humane treatment in elephant training and husbandry; (5) to disseminate accurate and scientifically based information about elephants; and (6) to promote better communication and relations among elephant managers through an annual conference and publications.
• The EMA holds an annual conference, hosted by a leading institutions in the elephant management community each year. The conference gives members an opportunity to network, share information, and listen to presentations from elephant professionals, researchers, and conservationists. The conference host allows members to tour their facility, and they often schedule trips to nearby facilities. Scholarships are available for EMA members.
• EMA also raises funds to support several in-situ conservation efforts in Africa and Asia. To learn about some of the recent conservation projects EMA has supported, click here.
• The EMA also circulates two publications, The Journal of the Elephant Managers Association (JEMA) and Gray Matters, which have information on elephant husbandry, enrichment, research, conservation, and more. In addition to these resources, EMA's website offers a Members Only section that contains documents on elephant management, educational resources, and access to our library of past publications.
• The EMA is very active in working with lawmakers across the country to make them aware of the science behind elephant training and is proud of its ongoing constructive efforts with city, state, and federal regulatory agencies on all matters related to elephant welfare.

Who are the EMA's members?

• Most of EMA's members provide daily care to elephants in facilities throughout the world. Animal care administrators, veterinarians, researchers, educators, zoo volunteers, and wildlife enthusiasts make up the remainder of our membership. However, any individual who cares about elephants and is interested in the objectives and goals set forth by the EMA is welcome to become a member.

How did the EMA begin?

• In the early 1980s, elephant professionals in North America began to gather for informal meetings, realizing the need for and the benefits of sharing information about elephant husbandry and training. In 1988, participants in the annual meeting held at Jacksonville Zoo voted to officially form the EMA, and a steering committee of leading professionals in the field of elephant care was elected.

What We Do

How is EMA affiliated with other organizations?

• Even though EMA is not formally linked with any other organization, many of its members work closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the International Elephant Foundation (IEF) on issues of conservation and continuing professional development. The EMA has also served in an advisory capacity to many regulatory agencies, including USDA/APHIS.

Does EMA have a stance on banning ivory?

• The EMA supports actions that will directly reduce the poaching of elephants in Africa and Asia and that will help end the illegal ivory trade, including the nationwide ban on the illegal ivory trade adopted by the US. We recognize that there is still progress to be made toward the goal of preventing the illegal poaching of elephants for their ivory. We fervently hope a solution can be reached before wild populations are negatively affected any further.

How will my membership dues be spent?

• Your membership dues help EMA achieve its mission. One small portion is used to offset the cost of each conference and defray the organization's administrative costs, with much of the fees going to scholarships that are awarded before each conference. We are also pleased that a large portion of membership dues support elephant conservation and research projects in range countries, as well as projects that enhance the well-being of elephants in human care.