AZA Elephant TAG/SSP Elephant Information
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Meet AZA's Elephants
Meet Stephanie
 Stephanie arrived at the Sedgwick County Zoo in 1972, along with Cinda, the zoo’s other elephant. Both are managed in a free contact system. In a free contact system there is direct handling of an elephant when the keeper and elephant share the same unrestricted space.
 Stephanie is a bit on the small side, as African elephants go, but what she lacks in physical size she more than makes up for in personality! She established herself as the dominant elephant right away. She is generally the first to enter or leave the building and can be quite a diva when it comes to enrichment items, such as her toys and musical instruments. Steph’s musical motto is, “the louder, the better” and bangs away on the piano keyboard with gusto. She also sends her harmonica flying with over-enthusiastic blasts of air!
A Playful Side
 When it comes to games, she is quite good at playing kickball with her keepers, but tends to be somewhat of a “ball hog.” She even races Cinda and the keepers at their version of elephant basketball, which involves seeing who can pick up the most balls and place them in a container.
Steph is a very tactile elephant and seems to enjoy the physical attention from keepers more than food rewards. She enjoys ‘meet and greets’ with her zoo guests.
Stephanie is an eager student when it comes to learning new behaviors. Once a relationship is established, she can be the easiest and most predictable elephant to work with.
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