Dan Albert John Koehl , camp elephant trainer in Cambodia Born 1959-10-28 in Sweden . Koehl grew up in Stockholm. A passionate zoo visitor and aquarist. Koehl began his career in aquarium and zoo-shops, and as commissioned shepherd for the Royal Herd of Sheep at Gärdet in Stockholm, he studied zookeeping at Enskede gårds gymnasium 1976-1979, and started in 1977 as apprentice elephant keeper at Skansen Zoo in Stockholm. He carried out apprenticeship as elephant-keeper at Circus Scott in Stockholm under elephant trainer Banda Vidane, made study trips to Sri Lanka and India, and became schooled in in traditional German elephant management at Hanover Zoo by Rolf Amelung and Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg, by elephant chief trainer Karl Kock. From 1986-1992 he served as Skansens last head elephant keeper. From left: Nika, Pelle Zettersten, Dan Koehl and Shiva, during a walk on Skansen. Photo: Catharina Koch-Florman. While at Skansen, pending the departure of the stable's elephants "Nika" and "Shiva" to inferior living conditions abroad, he figured in a campaign that sparked nationwide debate over "Stockholm's beloved elephants". Despite described by Cynthia Moss in Elephant Memories as "among the best-cared-for and happiest I had ever seen in captivity", after much controversy, Skansen\'s elephants were shipped to Cricket St. Thomas Wildlife Park in Somerset, England, only to face premature death. Your browser does not support the video tag. Since 1996, Dan Koehl has been free-lancing and served as head elephant keeper, stable master (Equerry) and consultant at zoos, circuses and ranches around the world. Locations have included Skansen (1977-19920, Cirkus Scott (1977), Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich (1991), Borås Wildlife Park (1997), Tiergarten Schönbrunn (1998), Parco Natura Viva (1998), Dresden Zoo (1999), Zoolandia (1999). Kolmården Wildlife Park (2000, and 2007-2010), Circus Krone (2000-2001), Tiergarten Walding 2001-2002), Elephant Experience and Sondelani Game Lodge in Zimbabwe (where he trained a wild caught Group of 10 elephants for safari riding), Karlsruhe Zoo (2010) and Prague Zoo (2010). At Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna 1998, Koehl assisted Director Dr. Helmut Pechlaner in elephants retraining and staff management when the zoo was induced to establish a new team of elephant keepers, facing a critical campaign concerning its keeping of elephants. In Italy he trained and introduced Rambo/Tango to the Herd in Vienna, as well as transferred and trained the young bull Pambo in Protected Contact. Likewise he assisted Director Dr. Herbert Lücker with elephant training and staff coaching in Dresden Zoo 1999, when the zoo was under criticism by members of animal rights organisations. At Circus Krone, Koehl was hired as stable master 2000-2001, in order to improve elephant management conditions. Elephant crew at Sondelani Game Farm, Zimbabwe, 2002. Photo: Jutta Kirchner, Vienna Zoo. Since 2010 Koehl has been located in South East Asia, visiting camps and updating his website elephant.se and the Elephant Database. Koehl has since 2019 been consulting for two elephant Foundations in Cambodia, Compagnie des Eléphants d’Angkor and its successor Kulen Elephant Forest, and Airavata Elephant Foundation, where he have trained the elephants and improved management. At Angkor Wat he trained the Group of elephants foor foot care and to stay obedient in social activity, whereas they were previously managed as single elephants for rides, and they are now hearded daily and managed by the mahouts from the ground in a forest area. From left: Dan Koehl, Savath Oum, Hen Moel, Chenda Clais, Pierre-Yves Clais, Airavata Elephant Foundation, 2020. Your browser does not support the video tag. Shorten of hind foot middle nail on Asian elephant bull Khamsen, at Airavata Elephant Foundation in Cambodia. Film © by Pierre-Yves Clais, Airavata Foundation, 2021.
