People to Meet: Mahalie Clowdus

If you’ve spent time watching the elephants at the Tulsa Zoo, you’ve likely seen Mahalie Clowdus at work—feeding, training and caring for one of the zoo’s most recognizable groups of animals. She helps care for seven elephants: Sneezy, Sooky, Booper, Billy, Tina, Hank and Connie.

Mahalie knew from a young age that she wanted to work with animals, and she knows many kids watching at the zoo wonder what it would be like to do the same. For Mahalie, it’s a combination of routine and unpredictability. Mornings start with preparing the elephants’ diets—chopped fruits and vegetables, hay, grain and supplements—followed by shifting the elephants so their spaces can be cleaned and reset for the day. From there, she works alongside them in training and medical sessions, helping with everything from daily care to checkups. In the afternoon, the focus shifts again as she prepares their food for the evening and overnight.

Elephants spend much of their day foraging, so enrichment is a big part of their care. Some of the items in their habitat are designed for feeding, while others—like large balls or scratching brushes—are there simply for play and movement. It’s all part of keeping animals that can weigh more than 12,000 pounds active and engaged.

It’s work that requires both patience and strength. Some of the enrichment tools are heavy to move, and much of the day is spent on your feet. But for Mahalie, the most meaningful part is the relationship she’s built with the animals. The elephants recognize her not just by sight, but by voice—sometimes even coming toward her when she calls to them.

Elephants recognize their keepers by sight and sound—and some even have favorite people they prefer to work with.

“I love the training aspect of my job,” she says. “Not everyone gets the opportunity to train such beautiful creatures like the Asian elephant.” She also describes working with elephants as “an honor” and something she doesn’t take for granted.

There’s also fun in each day. During bath time, the elephants stretch and move while keepers check their skin, often splashing and clearly enjoying the warm water. On nice days, they might head outside to swim or spend hours exploring and foraging together.

For kids who might want to follow a similar path, Mahalie’s advice is simple: start early and stay curious. Programs like zoo camps and internships can help, but even training a pet at home is a place to begin. For someone who once dreamed of working with animals, she’s built a career that’s as hands-on—and as rewarding—as she imagined.