Legit or Not?

[Ezio]

A good friend of mine has a daughter with Aspergers (she is really high functioning, wouldn't know anything was different unless she told you) and college has just not worked out for her. She is miserable at her current job (cleans tables at a small diner) and needs a change.  She is a total animal lover and would love a job working with animals. Especially elephants.

While looking around online, she found this site. http://www.elephantsanctuary.org/school/

Her dad wanted me to check online (the computer service in his area is terrible, they live in a different state) and see if this place is legit. Money is not a problem and the daughter can take care of herself (driving, hygiene, etc). I have checked everywhere but cannot find a review of it. Not talking about news articles or blogs, but actually people who went to it.

So, what are your feelings on it?

[siamesecat2965]

I'd be very skeptical if you can't find anything online. i check online for reviews on everything, and the lack of them usually makes me forgo whatever it is i'm looking into. Also, what exactly are the qualifications for elephant management? And what type of job would something like this lead too? those are also questions i'd be asking as well. Even if it is legit, no sense in wasting money on something that won't get you anywhere...i'd be very wary.

[HorseFreak]

I think if she goes into it aware that the chances of her finding a job working with elephants is probably <1% it could be an interesting experience.

Maybe she should consider a job as a kennel attendant for a vet and tech school if it's something that still interests her after working in the trenches. Working with animals sounds fun and exciting, but actually doing it day in and out is not all warm and fuzzies people think it is.

[Amara]

You might want to check with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has a career page ( http://www.aza.org/careers-zoos-aquariums/ ). They may be able to tell you if the school is worthwhile.

[Hmmmmm]

The sanctuary is legit and opens occasionally for tours. Search fir it as a tourist activity and you'll find info.

I didn't see where they implied attending this school would make you employable. I'd call a local zoo to find out about qualification requirements and their opinion if taking a 2 week course would improve your chances. $1800 for the course and two weeks of meals and lodging seems a reasonable cost.

[Ezio]

Got some more info from the father. She wants to either work at a Zoo or at one of the preserves in Africa (like Kruger).

She has worked at animal shelters and vets offices. Dad tells me that the ones in the area are full to bursting with volunteers and that the area's vet clinic is staffed with mean and judgmental people (vet tech called daughter *******, dad did complain).

Daughter also has a learning disability (mathwise, forgot the name) and that is one of the reaosn's callege didn't work.

[HorseFreak]

This might be a good resource (the pdf linked at the bottom of the page). http://aazk.org/zoo-keeping-as-a-career/

Sounds like she might have dyscalculia? Working in a zoo does require math so she'll probably want to get some help to work that out and show it won't be a problem. Most of the keeper job listings require a Bachelor's of Science, but a lower ranking job probably won't. One of the internships may be a better use of her time and money to get mentorship.

[amandaelizabeth]

My feeling is that it is legitimate but will probably not lead to a job.  But is she wants a a vacation spent with elephants it sounds wonderful.

Getting a job in a Game reserve not in her country of origin will be difficult.  She would need a very good specialised degree, or extensive local knowledge and a couple of local languages under her belt.  Our nearest Zoo has a 'volunteer friend of the Zoo programme' which would give her an opoprtunity to see who options there might be for her.