Dan Koehl

From the list of elephant persons Family: Koehl

Dan Koehl
Dan Koehl
African elephant bull Bonniface and Dan Koehl, Vi ctoria Falls, 2006. Photo: Jutta Kirchner , Vi enna Zoo.
Personal details
Spouse(s) 2000 - 2006 Bianca Brandstätter
Country Cambodia
Organisations
Title vice chairman 1998
Organisation at European Elephant Keeper and Manager Association
Title chairman
Organisation at Swedish Defend the elephants (Föreningen Försvara Elefanterna)
Locations
Title elephant consultant 2020-2024
Location at Kulen Elephant Forest in Cambodia
Title elephant consultant 2019-now
Location at Airavata Elephant Foundation in Cambodia
Title elephant consultant 2019-2020
Location at Angkor Elephants Company in Cambodia
Title elephant consultant 2010-2010
Location at Prague Zoo (Zoo Praha) in Czech Republic
Title elephant consultant 2010-2010
Location at Karlsruhe Zoo in Germany
Title elephant keeper 2007-2010
Location at Kolmarden Zoo in Sweden
Title elephant trainer 2006-2006
Location at Elephant Experience Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Title elephant trainer 2002-2006
Location at Sondelani Game Lodge in Zimbabwe
Title elephant consultant 2001-2002
Location at Walding Zoo in Austria
Title elephant stable master 2000-2001
Location at Circus Krone in Germany
Title elephant consultant 2000-2000
Location at Kolmarden Zoo in Sweden
Title elephant consultant 1999-1999
Location at Zoolandia in Finland
Title elephant consultant 1998-1998
Location at Dresden Zoo in Germany
Title elephant consultant 1998-1998
Location at Vienna Zoo in Austria
Title elephant consultant 1997-1997
Location at Boras Zoo in Sweden
Title elephant keeper 1991-1991
Location at Munich Zoo in Germany
Title elephant head-keeper 1986-1992
Location at Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden
Title elephant keeper 1977-1986
Location at Stockholm Zoo (Skansen) in Sweden
Dan Brandstätter
Koehl with Mala and Delhi at Circus Krone 2001. Photo: Catharina Florman.
Dan Brandstätter
Sambann getting welcome greeting from local children, after her arrival 2019 to Kulen Forest. Photo: David Piot.
Biography details

Dan Albert John Koehl , camp elephant trainer in Cambodia

Born 1959-10-28 in Sweden .

Affiliation with 94 elephants

1: Achariyek Noelle (trainer from 2020 to now) 2: Bak Mai (manager from 2019 to 2020) 3: Chi Tan II (trainer from 2019 to 2020) 4: Chi Tem (trainer from 2019 to 2020) 5: Sambann (trainer from 2019 to 2020) 6: Sara (manager from 2019 to 2020) 7: Tong Kham (manager from 2019 to 2023) 8: Bokva (manager from 2019 to now) 9: Chi Chlorb (trainer from 2019 to now) 10: Chi Mean (trainer from 2019 to now) 11: Chi Ole (trainer from 2019 to now) 12: Chi Tone II (trainer from 2019 to now) 13: Chi Youl (trainer from 2019 to now) 14: Gom Phoy (trainer from 2019 to now) 15: I Plock (trainer from 2019 to now) 16: I Tok (trainer from 2019 to now) 17: Ikeo (trainer from 2019 to now) 18: Kham Sung (manager from 2019 to now) 19: Khamsen (manager from 2019 to now) 20: Savath (trainer from 2019 to now) 21: Gulab (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 22: Ilona (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 23: Jenny (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 24: Mekong (elephant consultant from 2010 to 2010) 25: Rani (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 26: Shanti (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 27: Shanti (trainer from 2010 to 2010) 28: Bua (head-keeper from 2007 to 2010) 29: Saba (head-keeper from 2007 to 2010) 30: Sao Noi (Saonoi) (head-keeper from 2007 to 2010) 31: Bonniface (trainer from 2005 to 2006) 32: Dumbo (manager from 2005 to 2006) 33: Jumbo (manager from 2002 to 2005) 34: Bertha (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 35: Border (manager from 2002 to 2006) 36: Donna (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 37: Dubani (Dubane) (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 38: Houdini (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 39: Janet (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 40: Khumbula (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 41: Manna (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 42: Marijata (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 43: Pongoose (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 44: Sondelani (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 45: Sophie (manager from 2002 to 2006) 46: Tata (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 47: Temba (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 48: Thongwe (trainer from 2002 to 2006) 49: Bimbi (head-keeper from 2001 to 2002) 50: Mary (head-keeper from 2001 to 2002) 51: Brahma (elephant keeper from 2000 to 2000) 52: Donkey (elephant keeper from 2000 to 2000) 53: Mida (elephant keeper from 2000 to 2000) 54: Muni (stable master from 2000 to 2000) 55: Putschie (elephant keeper from 2000 to 2000) 56: Sandai (elephant keeper from 2000 to 2000) 57: Aisha (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 58: Bara (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 59: Burma (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 60: Dehli (Delhi) (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 61: Kenia (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 62: Mala (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 63: Sandrin (stable master from 2000 to 2001) 64: Drumbo (elephant keeper from 1999 to 1999) 65: Gustl (elephant keeper from 1999 to 1999) 66: Mogli (elephant keeper from 1999 to 1999) 67: Sawu (elephant keeper from 1999 to 1999) 68: Schöpfi (elephant keeper from 1999 to 1999) 69: Vanni (trainer from 1999 to 1999) 70: Anna (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 71: Drumbo (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 72: Jumbo (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 73: Pambo (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 74: Sabi (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 75: Tonga (head-keeper from 1998 to 1998) 76: Dudu (elephant keeper from 1997 to 1997) 77: Kibo (elephant keeper from 1997 to 1997) 78: Nyoka (elephant keeper from 1997 to 1997) 79: Shona (elephant keeper from 1997 to 1997) 80: Dirndl (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 81: Jopa (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 82: Kathi (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 83: Max (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 84: Steffi (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 85: Tina (elephant keeper from 1991 to 1991) 86: Nika (head-keeper from 1986 to 1992) 87: Shiva (elephant keeper from 1986 to 1992) 88: Noi (elephant keeper from 1978 to 1980) 89: Carla (elephant keeper from 1977 to 1977) 90: Delhi (elephant keeper from 1977 to 1977) 91: India (elephant keeper from 1977 to 1977) 92: Madras (elephant keeper from 1977 to 1977) 93: Said (elephant keeper from 1977 to 1977) 94: Kasper (attacked)

Casualties

2 casualties
  1. 2000: elephant trainer Dan Koehl attacked by Kasper. When running towards Ovita Lodge because of rain, Koehl was charged by semi-trained Kasper and Balthasar. With a film camera in his hands. Dan Koehl Survived. Koehl turned around and charged back. The two elephants turned and fled, leaving Koehl unharmed. The present elephant keepers Marcus Linder and Jörg Burger thought Koehl was injured, until meeting him on the lodge.
  2. 2002: elephant trainer Dan Koehl attacked by Bimbi. Pushed Koehl into a concrete wall Dan Koehl Survived. passed out, treated 2 days for concussion at Linz hospital.

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.

Dan KoehlFrom 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.



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.

Dan Koehl
At Circus Krone, Koehl was hired as stable master 2000-2001, in order to improve elephant management conditions.

Dan Koehl
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.

Dan Koehl
From left: Dan Koehl, Savath Oum, Hen Moel, Chenda Clais, Pierre-Yves Clais, Airavata Elephant Foundation, 2020.


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.

Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2025). elephant trainer Dan Albert John Koehl in Cambodia. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 28 March 2025 at https://www.elephant.se/person.php?id=88. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:


Selected publications

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Categories elephant trainer | camp | Airavata Elephant Foundation | Koehl family | Born 1959 | People from Cambodia


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