- elephant goad
or
- ankus

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ankus

prod (prd)
tr.v. prod·ded, prod·ding, prods
1. To jab or poke, as with a pointed object.
2. To goad to action; incite.
n.
1. A pointed object used to prod: a cattle prod.
2. An incitement; a stimulus.

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I support 'ankus' in respect to directing elephants . . .

I (BE native speaker) haven't met ankus before this evening, and would have to guess at its meaning, even given the context. It would help me (and perhaps others) if you added "or elephant-goad" after ankus - unless it's just me not knowing the word.