JOIN THE HERD THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE

By William Harwood

It’s a warm, summer day in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and Flora, age 40, stands under the shade of a tree enjoying her favorite food: watermelon. Since it is watermelon season, the scene would be unremarkable except for the fact that Flora stands eight feet six inches and is an African elephant. Born in the wild, orphaned at two, and raised in an American circus, Flora has found her forever home in the hills, fields, and forests of a very special place, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Here, for the first time in her life, Flora has the freedom of choice, deciding for herself what she wants to do and when she wants to do it. Further, unlike in her circus days, she is no longer alone. Three other African elephants, Nosey, Sukari, and Tange, share the vast, protected enclosures with her. Tange, in particular, has become Flora’s pachyderm pal, the two often expressing affection by entwining trunks and caressing.

The sight of two elephants displaying tenderness for each other encapsulates the primary mission of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accredited Elephant Sanctuary: to ensure not just the physical well-being of these highly intelligent and social creatures but provide the conditions for their emotional needs as well. Each animal receives individualized care from a dedicated staff of expert veterinarians and trained volunteers, but not even the best care in the world can provide the critical companionship that elephants derive from being a part of a herd. Only other elephants can do that. For this reason, The Elephant Sanctuary is a true sanctuary and closed to the public.

The four African and five Asian elephants who live on these 3,060 acres replete with heated barns, solar water pumps, spring-fed lakes, and three separate habitats do so without the distractions of crowds and the noise of tour buses. These small herds are safe and free to roam the varied landscape as they wish giving them the freedom they deserve.

The Elephant Sanctuary’s mission doesn’t stop with providing for the elephants. The second part of the mission is increasing public knowledge. For this, there is the wonderful Elephant Discovery Center, an education destination for all things elephant in downtown Hohenwald. Here, visitors can learn about elephants' complex role in their ecosystems and about their conversation and care through engaging, self-guided exhibits like the training wall and the elephant vocalization podiums as hands-on activities.

Even though it is a true sanctuary, anyone can view the sanctuary’s current nine residents on the EleCam, a system of solar-powered cameras that locate and monitor the elephants and provide an ideal opportunity for distance learning while maintaining the elephants’ need for tranquility. These EleCams allow for distance learning and for The Elephant Sanctuary to make an impact far beyond Middle Tennessee. “In 2021 the education team was able to reach more than 14,000 people and did more than 300 programs to reach students and adults in more than 35 states and 10 countries,” says Laura Roddy, Education Manager. “The education team is leading programs daily on different online platforms.”

But, of course, the stars of the show are the elephants themselves, even if only seen on a screen. “My favorite thing about The Elephant Sanctuary is how unique each elephant is as an individual,” Roddy says. “Some of them will choose to be social. Some will spend their days pushing down trees. Some are out swimming in the ponds and lakes provided for them. I encourage everyone to visit elephants.com and look at the different biographies to get to know the elephants because they all are so special.”

Chuck Graves, a volunteer at the Sanctuary since 2013, would no doubt agree. “I have always had an affinity for elephants,” he says, “and have been aware of The Sanctuary since its founding in 1995.”

As for the volunteering itself, Graves explains there are two types. “Work at the Discovery Center or on The Sanctuary grounds themselves. I have cleared fences, pulled weeds, cut bamboo, and painted barns. This work frees up the caregivers to focus on the elephants themselves.”

The other type of volunteering is to become an EleAmbassador, a nationwide network of volunteers trained by The Sanctuary to represent the elephants in their local communities. Graves is one as well. “As part of my EleAmbassador work, I have manned booths at local events and helped children make enrichment items for the elephants like hay-filled, elephant burritos.”

In 2001, Loran Dosen had a feeding encounter with an elephant at a North African zoo that made her question the needs and care of elephants in zoos and circuses.

“I started to learn more about the vital role of elephants in their natural habitat as a keystone species, the conservation challenges they face in the wild, and organizations working to protect them worldwide,” she said. After moving to Franklin, Dosen became a volunteer to share her respect and hope for the species existing both in the wild and in captivity. She has been volunteering at The Sanctuary for three years and is also an EleAmbassador, where she offers presentations to groups to share her passion and help educate people about elephants. Dosen explained, “The Elephant Sanctuary was the perfect place for me to actively participate in expressing appreciation for these extraordinary largest living land animals, promoting awareness of their vital role as a keystone species, and ensuring hope for the safety and longevity of the species.”

To help continue the work at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, please visit elephants.com

The Elephant Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is accredited by The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Since 1995, The Sanctuary has provided a safe haven for 28 elephants who were retired from zoos and circuses. What began on just 110 acres, now covers more than 3,000 acres allowing these compassionate creatures to roam freely in a natural habitat for the remainder of their lives.

MEET THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO THE SANCTUARY

DONNA

Donna, formerly known as Eloise, was captured at the age of two from her natural habitat and brought to the United States. She was acquired by the Audubon Zoo in 1982 and spent eight years there before arriving at the Oakland Zoo in California in 1990. At Oakland Zoo, she found companionship with African male elephant Osh, as well as African females M'Dunda and Lisa.

Sadly, Donna lost her dear companions, M’Dunda in 2019 and Lisa in 2023, leaving her alone. Oakland Zoo, recognizing the vital role of social bonds in elephant well-being, diligently sought the best solution for Donna. Ultimately, they decided to grant her the opportunity to spend her remaining years at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where she could find companionship among other female African elephants of similar age.

Donna's arrival marked her transition as the Sanctuary's 32nd elephant resident. She stands out with her long legs, slender face, a luxuriant tail of hair, and a distinctive arch in her back. Her majestic stature is complemented by her weight of over 8,500 pounds and a towering height of nine feet, one inch. Donna’s demeanor exudes the dominance typical of African elephants, often displaying natural behaviors like ear flaring and carrying her trunk high.

In her daily routines, Donna can be seen reveling in mud wallows, gracefully navigating her natural surroundings, and even lugging a tire she brought from California. While she occasionally wanders her expansive habitat alone, she eagerly returns to engage with her companions Flora, Tange, and Sukari.

EDIE

Born in the wilderness of Africa in 1983, Edie was taken from her natural habitat and brought to the United States as a young calf. For over a decade, she served as the solitary elephant attraction, providing rides at a youth camp in Texas. In 2002, she found a new home at Zoo Knoxville, where she joined African elephants Jana and Tonka.

In 2022, Zoo Knoxville decided to relocate Edie, Jana, and Tonka to ensure their lifelong care and social needs. Edie was the second elephant from the zoo to be moved to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. The first was Jana, a 43-year-old female, who was transferred in May 2023. Sadly, Jana's health declined rapidly, and she passed away in October that same year.

Edie became the 33rd resident of The Elephant Sanctuary where she resides in the Asia Barn and Habitat alongside Nosey, an African elephant, and Sissy, an Asian elephant. She weighs 9,300 pounds and stands eight feet tall, with distinctive scars on her left hip and stocky yet symmetrical tusks.

She is known for her quick movements and unique gait, raising her left front leg high and swinging it across to the right, and often exhibits the unique behavior of standing with her hind legs crossed. Edie is a very social elephant frequently engaging with her companions and she enjoys foraging in her habitat. n