Modern Elephant Management Consulting

21/09/2026

Treatment of an infected water pocket in the foot of an Asian elephant.

Water pockets form when the normal outflow from the sweat glands around the cuticle and nail margin becomes obstructed. This can happen for many reasons such as when the cuticle becomes overgrown or where there is prolonged pressure around the area. This elephant had many foot related issues, but this water pocket was probably due to excessive scar tissue formed by heat, caused by years of incorrect “foot care” with an electric grinder.
The scar tissue does not allow the sweat gland to function as it normally should, fluid that would normally drain away becomes trapped beneath the surface, creating a localised pocket.
Once a water pocket has become infected, the pressure needs to be relieved and drainage restored. The pocket must be carefully opened so the infected material can escape and the area can be properly cleaned. Dead or detached tissue that prevents drainage may need to be removed, while healthy tissue should be preserved wherever possible. The aim is to create sufficient drainage without unnecessarily enlarging the area.
During this treatment I accidentally caught a small area of living tissue, which caused some minor bleeding. This is never the goal and should always be avoided. With a water pocket this severe, where infected and damaged tissue has to be carefully followed and opened, minor bleeding can sometimes be unavoidable. It also shows why this type of footcare needs to be carried out carefully and by someone with a good understanding of the anatomy involved.
After opening and drainage, the area needs continual monitoring and appropriate aftercare while it drys and heals. Maintaining drainage is particularly important, as closing the area too early can allow fluid and infection to become trapped again.

For further information on water pockets and their treatment, can be found in my book,

Modern Elephant Management: A Guide to Elephant Foot Health.

You can buy it here:
https://amzn.eu/d/0d4jkhll

Or contact me at -

[email protected]

www.modernelephantmanagement.com

12/08/2026

🐘 WORLD ELEPHANT DAY 2026🐘

Today is World Elephant Day!

For those of us who work with elephants, days like this are a useful reminder of the responsibility that comes with managing them in human care.
Their welfare depends on the quality of the decisions made around them every day. Housing, environmental interactions, social management, training, foot health, ageing and veterinary care all have a direct effect on the lives they lead.
Elephant management has changed enormously over the years and it will continue to change. Better knowledge, better facilities and a greater understanding of individual elephants give us the opportunity to keep improving what we provide.
There is always more to learn, and there is always something that we can be do better.
Today, alongside recognising the conservation challenges facing elephants in the wild, I also want to recognise the keepers, veterinarians and other professionals working every day to improve the lives of elephants in human care.

Modern Elephant Management
Advancing Elephant Welfare

www.modernelephantmanagement.com

07/07/2026

Happy to help.

30/06/2026

Custom made set of training targets, finished and ready for a new customer.

Each target is made individually to a practical design suitable for elephant management and other animal training work.
Training targets can be used for protected contact routines, medical behaviours, stationing, positioning and daily management.

Custom sizes, colours and designs are available, built to your specifications and intended use.

For orders or enquiries, contact Modern Elephant Management.

www.modernelephantmanagement.com

08/06/2026

24/05/2026

The second batch of signed pre-order copies are now packed and ready to be shipped around the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia, and Mexico.

The response to the book since release has been far bigger than I ever expected. Thank you again to everyone who supported me and pre-ordered a copy.
The book is now officially released and available through Amazon and directly through the Modern Elephant Management website.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.eu/d/01LVOjCx

www.modernelephantmanagement.com

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20/05/2026

The first batch of signed copies are now on their way.

Thank you to everyone who supported the pre-order release, shared the posts, sent messages, and backed the project from the beginning. The response to the book has been far bigger than I ever expected.

The book is now released and available through Amazon and directly through the Modern Elephant Management website.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.eu/d/01LVOjCx

www.modernelephantmanagement.com

17/05/2026

I’m excited to share that my new book,

Modern Elephant Management: A Guide to Elephant Foot Health,

is now available on Amazon.

One challenge we all face in elephant care is that many foot problems are already advanced by the time obvious signs appear.
This book examines how foot disease progresses in managed elephants, why some conditions become chronic, and , most importantly, practical steps we can take earlier, together, to support stronger foot health and better welfare outcomes for the elephants in our care.
Written from direct, hands-on experience working with elephants in both free and protected contact systems, it’s intended as a useful resource for all of us committed to advancing elephant welfare.

You can find it here: https://amzn.eu/d/0eVQ481d

15/05/2026

Questions about elephant management, foot health, facility design, staff training, or custom haynets?

You can now contact Modern Elephant Management directly on WhatsApp for enquiries, orders, and consultancy discussions.

Professional advice backed by decades of hands-on elephant management experience.

Message us on WhatsApp today.

10/05/2026

Launching Soon!!

A first sneak peek inside -

Modern Elephant Management: A Guide to Elephant Foot Health.

These pages offer a glimpse into the practical approach behind the book, focusing on how foot problems develop in managed care, what influences them over time, and the daily decisions that shape long-term foot health.

Written from decades of hands-on experience to support keepers, vets, and all people responsible for elephant care.

Limited signed copies are now available for pre-order at:

https://modernelephantmanagement.com/shop/ols/products/pre-order-only--limited-signed-copy-edition-modern-elephant-management-a-guide-to-elephant-foot-health

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