The Elephant Managers Association (EMA) is proud to present our 46th annual conference, hosted by the Fresno Chaffee Zoo on October 5-8, 2025.
The conference will include a trip to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, behind-the-scenes tours, two days packed with presentations on various elephant management topics, a banquet, and a silent auction.
EMA President Tripp Gorman stated, "We are honored Fresno Chaffee Zoo has partnered with us to host this year's EMA conference. It'll be great to get back to the west coast and give our colleagues a new place to explore. Fresno Chaffee Zoo has invested so much into their elephant program over the years. We are anxious for delegates to immerse themselves into their African Adventure, a habitat spanning 13 acres. This conference location has so many natural wonders nearby like national parks and forests many can visit while they are in the area too. As always, we look forward to this year's conference presentations by elephant professionals from around the world. Get ready for four days of networking and an opportunity to discover new ideas."
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is home to five African elephants. The Zoo's giants reside at the African Adventure section of the Zoo, which is a 13-acre expansion that features naturalistic exhibits for African elephants, lions, cheetahs, and white rhinos. You'll enjoy the antics of their two elephant calves, Thando and Davu, during your visit. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo's elephant program is a leader in providing overall wellbeing for their ambassadors and specializes in many aspects of elephant management.
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 and the Executive Committee, our conference host—Fresno Chaffee Zoo—will have the opportunity to showcase the features that make them a premier elephant program. Join us October 5-8, 2025.
For all conference-related information, please keep an eye on this page, or you can contact the EMA Conference Committee at conference@elephantmanagers.com.
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
To receive the discounted member rate, EMA members should verify they are in good standing by logging in to 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.
Single-day registrations are not available.
This year's conference hotel is DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Fresno Convention Center.
Conference rate is $179 per night for a standard king bed or two queen beds. This rate does not include other hotel fees and taxes.
The block is good October 3 to October 10 to give delegates plenty of opportunity to explore the area at this discounted rate.
EMA is now accepting papers for our 2025 conference. Please complete the online Call for Papers form to submit your abstract.
All forms are due on July 31, 2025. The conference committee will be selecting papers that cover all topics in elephant management. All presentations will be 15 minutes long with a 5-minute question-and-answer period. Presenters will be selected and notified by August 11, 2025. Once selected as a presenter, we will contact you about the conference schedule and other details regarding your presentation.
EMA will award the following scholarships for our 2025 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. Sponsored by Planned Migration.
The EMA Conference Committee is currently seeking donations to offset the costs of the 46th Annual EMA Conference. All contributors will be recognized throughout the conference during our program and via 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 2025 EMA Conference, please select from our sponsorship opportunities.
Each year during the annual conference, the host facility gathers items for a silent auction. The silent auction is held during the conference's banquet night. All proceeds from the silent auction help fund our annual scholarship awards and expenses. We are currently gathering elephant books, art, clothing, and collectibles. Even if you are not able to attend the 2025 EMA conference, you can still donate your items. We encourage all donors to donate items via mail before the conference. All donations must be submitted with a donation form and shipped to the address indicated on the form. To donate, please complete the EMA Silent Auction Donation Form, print the form, and send with your items to the address listed on the form.