Center for Elephant Conservation

Ringling Bros. Center For Elephant Conservation
Facts & Figures

Site
200 acres located in a pristine wilderness area in Polk County (central Florida), between Tampa and Orlando.

Timeline
Site planning began in November 1994, with construction starting December 1994 and completed in June 1995. The architect was Jerry N. Zoller, A.I.A., Bradenton, FL.

Breeding
Number of births to date: 22

Principal Designer
Dr. Richard Houck, former Ringling Bros. veterinarian for thirteen years and an internationally recognized expert in the care and breeding of exotic animals with over 30 years of experience in the field.

Staff
Gary Jacobson, Director
Jim Williams, Operations Manager
A team of 13 men and women with over 100 years of combined experience working with elephants in exhibition and performance.

Cost
$5 million to establish. Funding for the Ringling Bros. Center provided exclusively by Feld Entertainment, Inc., parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®.

Facilities
There are five principal animal buildings:

1)	Main barn (17,000 square feet) -- Structure is used primarily for housing of mother and infant elephants as well as birthing facilities, with 24-hour audio and video monitoring systems and automated animal waste cleaning system. The building also contains an elevated office/lab/observation room, a feed storage room and two workshop areas.
2) - 4)	Male elephant barns (3,100 square feet each) -- Two similar structures, each housing a single male elephant. Connecting outdoor paddocks allow intermingling of sexes.
5)	Double male elephant barn (4,900 square feet) -- Structure houses two male elephants in separate areas with connecting paddocks.

All animal barns are well-ventilated via high-speed exhaust fans. Heat can be provided if necessary. All buildings have fire detection devices, and an independent water system is in place for fire control.

Paddocks
Five outside areas (1 area for mothers and offspring, composed of 6 smaller areas; the others for breeding). All include structures to provide shade and constant access to drinking water. Via an intricate system of 37 gates and walkways, each paddock can be accessed from any other one without animals having to exit secured areas.

Other related facilities include:
1) Hay barn (2,400 square feet) -- Structure is located outside of the security perimeters to provide local vendors access for deliveries without having to enter the secured area. The barn also contains a refrigerated vegetable storage area. 2) Caretaker homes -- Personnel are on-site 24 hours a day to ensure the safety and care of the elephants. The Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation is not open to the public. Special visits can be arranged for members of the academic, research and conservation communities by calling (863)984-9374.

Food Supplies
2.5 tons of hay daily for all elephants.

Other food includes 700 to 800 pounds per day of grains, fruits and vegetables for all elephants, 80 gallons of water daily per elephant for drinking and baths (volume will vary depending on the weather).

1 ton of waste produced daily by all elephants. Waste is trucked from the site, composted and recycled as organic fertilizer.

Design Elements

Primary Concerns
1) Comfort of the Asian elephants (food, water, place to sleep, shade, regular grooming)
2) Safety of animals and humans
3) Implementation of labor-saving practices
4) Room for future expansion
5) Aesthetics

Other Considerations
The site is isolated and pristine, situated an optimum distance from the road and neighbors, yet located close to a major city (Orlando) and the Winter Quarters of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey (now in Tampa). The facilities are sensitive to the wilderness environment and therefore utilize good drainage and water-saving devices. The well-ventilated buildings are easy to clean and equipped with labor-saving devices and maximum water pressure for bathing.

Another Bundle of Elephant Joy: Our 25th Calf, Nate!