For the wildlife care specialist team at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Denny Sanford Elephant Valley wasn’t just another project. It was years of experience, diligent planning, and constant attention all merging in real time.
Our elephant care experts combine varied backgrounds and experiences, and each perspective proved valuable during construction of the most transformative project in our organization’s century-long history. “Having the elephants' space grow so much on a weekly basis required the whole team to work together to ensure the wellbeing of the elephants, staff, and construction workers throughout the changes,” said Jill Oates, wildlife care specialist.
Wildlife care experts collaborated closely to ensure the herd thrived.
Keeping the habitat ready for the elephants to explore and graze was largely thanks to senior wildlife care specialist Evan Miracle’s ingenuity, which included always having opportunities to forage for food. Evan shared that their priority was always to guarantee wildlife had everything they needed to thrive.
Senior wildlife care specialist Nicholas Orrantia, whose lifelong goal has been to provide elephant care, also drew on years of experience to guide the team. Nicholas recognizes how visitors will connect with the elephants in a special and profound way. “Guests will be close enough to not only see the wrinkles and tiny hairs on the elephants, but they’ll also hear, smell, and maybe even feel the vibrations of an elephant rumble,” Nicholas said.
“I am most looking forward to interactions with the guests on a regular basis,” Erin Frost, senior wildlife care specialist, added. “I get to share information about this amazing species and things people can do in their day-to-day lives to help ensure these wildlife will be here for future generations.”
Thanks to the commitment of our teams, Elephant Valley is now open for guests to experience.
Pivoting schedules, tracking herd milestones, and problem-solving on the fly became second nature. Months of collaboration, flexibility, and effort made it possible for the elephants to thrive through each shift. Team members joked that "it was like remodeling every room in a house while living in it."
Turning vision into reality at Elephant Valley showcases the dedication, mindfulness, and creativity of those who collaborated on the project. Visitors are now able to adventure through this transformational experience thanks to the colleagues who made every step of this process a success.
Witness the expertise of our wildlife care specialists on your next visit to Elephant Valley, where you'll also discover more about how we're safeguarding the future of the species through our Savanna Conservation Hub.
