The Veterinary Team Behind World-Class Elephant Care at The Preserve

The Asian elephants at The Preserve in Fredericksburg, TX receive care from a team of veterinary professionals that includes local practitioners, elephant medicine specialists, and visiting experts. That level of specialized attention does not happen by accident. It is the result of relationships built over decades in the field of elephant care and husbandry.

Here is a closer look at the people responsible for keeping our animals healthy.

Dr. Pat O'Neil Provides Local Veterinary Support Through Pedernales Veterinary Center

Dr. Pat O'Neil at Pedernales Veterinary Center serves as the local veterinary partner specializing in exotic animals for The Preserve. His proximity to the Fredericksburg area means the elephants have consistent access to on-the-ground care and routine health monitoring.

Having a local vet embedded in the care team is important for any animal facility. Day-to-day health checks, response to illness, and coordination with visiting specialists all depend on a reliable local contact. Dr. O'Neil fills that role for The Preserve.

Dr. Ellen Wiedner Brings Elephant Medicine Expertise From Colorado

Dr. Ellen Wiedner is the elephant specialist on the team. She is based in Colorado and travels to The Preserve several times a year to work directly with the herd.

Elephant medicine is a narrow and highly specialized discipline. Asian elephants have complex physiological needs that differ significantly from domesticated animals and even from other exotic species. A dedicated elephant specialist like Dr. Wiedner provides oversight on care protocols, husbandry practices, and long-term health planning that a general exotic animal vet is not positioned to deliver alone. Her visits ensure that the elephants' care stays aligned with the latest standards in elephant medicine.

Dr. Eng Focuses on Animal Ophthalmology

Eye health is a key focus of care at The Preserve. Dr. Eng, an animal ophthalmologist, is part of the extended care team. Elephant vision and eye health require monitoring throughout an animal's life, and having a specialist in that area reflects the depth of medical attention our animals receive.

Drs. Jim and Linda Peddie Bring More Than 25 Years of Elephant Experience

Before The Preserve was established in Fredericksburg Texas, the elephants in the current herd were cared for in California. Drs. Jim and Linda Peddie served as the veterinary team for those elephants for more than 25 years.

That kind of continuity in veterinary care carries real weight. Elephants are long-lived animals with complex individual histories, and a vet who has cared for the same animals for decades understands their baselines, past health events, and behavioral patterns in a way that no new provider can replicate quickly.

Although Drs. Peddie have retired from active practice, they continue to visit The Preserve once or twice a year. Their ongoing involvement means that institutional knowledge about the herd stays accessible to the current care team.

Why Specialized Elephant Care Matters

Elephants in human care require a level of medical attention that goes beyond standard exotic animal practice. Consider what their care involves on a regular basis:

• Foot care, which is a primary health concern for captive elephants because foot problems are a leading cause of health decline

• Dental health monitoring, as elephants cycle through six sets of molars over a lifetime

• Skin and hydration care, which is why bathing is part of both their health routine and the visitor experience

• Reproductive and hormonal monitoring

• Behavioral health and enrichment

No single vet covers all of these areas. The Preserve's approach of building a team with distinct areas of expertise, from local support to specialist care, reflects the standard that responsible elephant management requires.

Elephant Care and Conservation Go Together

The Preserve positions its elephants as ambassadors for conservation education. That mission only holds up if the animals themselves are thriving. Providing them with a team of experienced, specialized veterinary professionals is part of what supports that claim in practice.

Visitors to the Elephant Experience at The Preserve learn about grooming, foot care, and the daily routines that go into maintaining healthy elephants. That education is grounded in the real work of the people listed above.

If you want to learn more about the elephants at The Preserve or book an experience at visitthepreserve.com.