The Elephant Managers Association (EMA) is proud to present our 47th annual conference, hosted by the Maryland Zoo on October 4-8, 2026.

The conference will include a trip to Maryland Zoo, behind-the-scenes tours, two days packed with presentations on various elephant management topics, a banquet and silent auction, a pre-conference enrichment workshop, and a post-conference trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

EMA President Tripp Gorman stated, "We are honored the Maryland Zoo has partnered with us to host this year’s EMA Conference.  The pre-conference enrichment workshop is on a whole new level allowing members to take the items they built home while the post-trip allows us to catch a glimpse of National Zoo’s newest herd member, Linh Mai. With so many other elephant facilities nearby this is a hotspot for delegates to take some extended time to see the “elephants of the northeastern area”. We look forward to this year's conference and presentations by elephant professionals from around the world. We are planning a conference that will give everyone plenty of opportunities to network and discover new ideas”.

The Maryland Zoo is home to three African elephants: Samson, Tuffy, and Felix. The Zoo’s elephant program operates as a fully data-driven system, collecting daily behavioral, training, and wellbeing metrics for each elephant to guide decision making. Complementing this foundation, the Zoo has developed an in-house engineering program that designs and installs automated opportunities throughout the habitats, giving elephants meaningful control over their environment around the clock. Delegates will experience a program where behavioral science, technology, and practical application converge, highlighting a modern approach to elephant management. As Maryland Zoo transitions to a dedicated bull facility, it is embracing the evolving landscape of elephant management with a focus on long-term sustainability, progressive care, and a future centered on advancing bull management practices.

EMA partners with elephant programs that stand out as leaders in the elephant community to host the annual conference. The annual gathering promotes the cooperative exchange of information, open channels of communication, and meaningful networking opportunities for all elephant care professionals. Host facilities are chosen based on their commitment to elephants, their support of conservation and research efforts, their hospitality, and their demonstrated willingness to foster growth and development in all who work closely with elephants.

EMA's annual conference is the most accessible and affordable opportunity for elephant care professionals to expand their knowledge and professional network. Delegates will receive cutting edge information focusing on professional elephant management trends and will have the opportunity to see firsthand the methods employed by other established elephant programs.

With the help of EMA's Board of Directors, our conference host—Maryland Zoo—will have the opportunity to showcase the features that make them a premier elephant program. Please join us on October 4 to 8, 2026.

For all conference-related information, please keep an eye on this page, follow us on social media, or you can contact the EMA Conference Committee (conference@elephantmanagers.com)

2026 EMA Key-Note Speaker

EMA and Maryland Zoo are proud to announce that our 2026 keynote speaker is Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D. Susan is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University and the owner of Behavior Works Consulting, LLC. Susan has co-authored chapters on behavior change in five veterinary texts, and her popular articles have been translated into 17 languages. Susan teaches seminars and courses on animal learning online (How Behavior Works: Living & Learning with Animals), which has been attended by students from 64 countries so far. Susan consults with zoos and animal organizations around the world and teaches yearly for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Animal Trainer Accreditation program. She was appointed to the Fish & Wildlife Service’s California Condor Recovery Team from 2002 – 2010, after which the team was retired due to the success of the birds in the wild.  Currently, she is the Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Committee of American Humane Association (AHA) Film and TV Unit. In 2022, Susan was honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. See behaviorworks.org and facebook.com/behaviorworks. Her latest initiative is Behavior Works Zoo School (BWZS), opening in October 2026. Welcoming animal care professionals working with all species, BWZS will apply a natural science approach to practical training supported by compassion, collaboration and confidence. Join us in hearing a different approach to training.  

Conference Registration

All attendees must register online by clicking here.

• Full registration for EMA members: $235
• Full registration for all non-members: $280
• Late registration (after September 11) for EMA members: $260
• Late registration (after September 11) for all non-members: $385

* Full registration includes: transportation to/from Maryland Zoo, select conference meals (icebreaker and banquet), access to paper presentations, icebreaker, both paper days, zoo day, banquet/awards, and the evening of October 4th through October 7th

Pre-Conference Enrichment Workshop - Build Your Own Automated Feeder

Learn how to design and build an automated feeder from the ground up. This hands-on workshop will walk you through the full process, from core components to final assembly, so you leave with the skills to replicate and adapt the system at your own institution.

The feeder can be configured as a timed feeder, allowing you to schedule up to twenty feeds, or as a contingent system that cues an animal to approach and delivers reinforcement based on behavior.

Option A – Build your own feeder at the Maryland Zoo Engineering Lab and leave with the knowledge and experience to recreate the system on your own. $225

Option B – Build your own feeder at the Maryland Zoo Engineering Lab and take home the fully functional unit you construct (either in your checked bag or shipped to your institution). $50

Post-Conference Trip to Smithsonian's National Zoo - Visit Linh Mai!

Tour the zoo and behind the scences of the elephant barn. Majority of the day on October 8^th: $75

Add Ons

• Icebreaker only, the evening of October 4^th: $50
• Paper Day 1 only, on October 5^th: $75
• Paper Day 2 only, on October 6^th: $75
• Zoo Day only, on October 7^th: $50
• Conference Banquet/Awards only, the evening of October 7^th: $50

To receive the discounted member rate, EMA members should verify they are in good standing by logging into the members only section and using their membership credentials. Conference hosts and EMA Conference Committee members will verify your membership status after conference registration is completed.

Conference Scholarships

EMA will award the following scholarships for our 2026 conference:

• $1,000 Ashley Sheppard Scholarship (in memory of Rosamond Gifford Zoo's Elephant Manager, Ashley Sheppard), available to EMA members who are elephant caretakers. Sponsored by Janet Dray
• $1,000 Inclusive Culture Scholarship, awarded to an EMA member who identifies with a cultural group historically underrepresented at EMA conferences.
• $2,000 scholarship available to an international EMA member (i.e., a member not working in the US).
• $1,000 scholarship available to any EMA member.

To apply for the scholarship, please complete the application form and send all materials to Nate Elgart (nelgart@zooatlanta.org). Scholarship applications and supporting materials are due by June 30, 2026. Scholarship winners will be notified by July 14, 2026.

Sponsor the 2026 EMA Conference

The EMA Conference Committee is currently seeking donations to offset the costs of the 47th Annual EMA Conference. All contributors will be recognized throughout the conference during our program and throughout signage. This is a wonderful opportunity to show your support for both elephants and elephant professionals. To learn more about how you or your organization can help sponsor the 2026 EMA Conference, please select from our Sponsorship opportunities.