The African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ont., is a drive-through wildlife park that is home to over 1,000 birds and animals roaming freely throughout large game reserves. Since 1991, a dozen Asian elephants have been born at the park, making it the most successful centre for breeding the endangered species in North America.

Charlie Gray, Superintendent of Elephants who is amongst the top three elephant handlers in the world speaks to The Sri Lanka Reporter during a daily elephant swim at the safari. He has worked with the African Lion Safari for 26 years.

He says a historic bond exists between people who work closely with elephants, especially in Asian countries. A diverse age structure in the herd, constant physical, mental, and emotional simulation are the keys to success of the breeding program, he added. Mr. Gray also trains interns who wish to work with elephants, and travels to Southeast Asia to present workshops.

The safari originally started with African elephants, but decided to concentrate on the more endangered Asian species in 1987. The Asian elephant is said to be rational, more inclined to think before they act when confronted with a situation. Charlie attributes this behaviour to the high level of human interaction between elephants and humans in Asia.

With their ancestors hailing from tropical countries of India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand, elephants born at African Lion Safari represent a uniquely Canadian generation. “We have a very large heated barn, but the elephants go outside pretty much everyday in the winter. The young who have been born and raised here love to play in the snow, just like kids in Canada. Even if they come from a tropical climate they can acclimate well,” Mr. Gray says.

Chuck, born last summer was the first third-generation Asian elephant calf in North America. The calf was named after the director of Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, where his mother “Mali” is on loan from. Chuck was the twelfth elephant to be born at the safari since 1991.