Stephen Koyle has spent more than 30 years caring for animals.  He has spent the last 20 years specializing in elephant care. Throughout his career Steve has traveled around the world inspiring future elephant keepers, zoo teens, animal rights activists and zoo board members.   His passion and work ethic have driven him to form ELEPHANT CARE UNCHAINED.

In May of 1999, Steve earned a degree in Zoology from Michigan State University. Early in 2000, Steve began working at the Wildlife Waystation in Los Angeles CA.  There he cared for numerous exotic animals including Chimpanzees, Lions and Tigers.  In March of 2002, Steve began working as an elephant keeper at the Phoenix Zoo.  It was at the Phoenix Zoo that he began honing his skills as an elephant keeper.  In Nov. 2004 while working at the Phoenix Zoo Steve attended European Elephant Management School in Hamburg, Germany. In Feb 2011, Steve attended AZA's Principals of Elephant Management. He was an instructor for elephant care workshops at the Phoenix Zoo in 2007,2008,2009, 2011,2013,2015.  Steve has become an expert and very well respected for his knowledge of target training using positive reinforcement, designing facilities that support elephant health and specializing in proper elephant foot-care.

Steve’s original conception of ELEPHANT CARE UNCHAINED was born in early 2013 when he made his first trip to India as a skilled volunteer with Wildlife SOS. Wildlife SOS is an organization that rescues all native Indian wildlife including elephants.  It was there that he learned about the cruel treatment of elephants in their native countries.  The brutality that elephants endure on a daily basis was something Steve felt compelled to address. It was after this eye opening experience Steve decided to commit his life to improving elephants lives globally.  He has now established ELEPHANT CARE UNCHAINED, a 501c3 organization dedicated to eliminating cruelty and improving elephant welfare in their native countries.

Board of Directors:

Steve Koyle, Founder, CEO, and President
Based out of Chandler, Arizona

 Linda Yoss, Vice President and Treasurer

Kaylee Barton, Secretary

Corena Barr, Board Member

Karen Logan, Board Member

Special Thanks to our mentor Alan Roocroft of Elephant Business Inc.