Amongst rolling hills and peaceful woods is a facility providing sanctuary for elephants. Here, majestic giants find freedom, peace, and companionship. This is not a zoo or a tourist attraction, this is a home for retired African and Asian elephants who have spent most of their lives in circuses or zoos. Welcome to The Elephant Sanctuary, a haven where elephants are free to be elephants again.

While The Elephant Sanctuary is not open to the public, you’ll soon have the opportunity to visit through a K12 virtual field trip. Trunk Tales at The Elephant Sanctuary brings students closer to their resident elephants for an informative session about elephants, conservation, and how you can help. Trunk Tales is on March 4, at 4 PM ET, and you can register by visiting: https://enrichment.k12.com/virtual-field-trips/.

Don’t miss out on seeing this incredible sanctuary’s mission in action!

The Elephant Sanctuary

Founded in 1995 and operating on 3,060 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is a haven created for the individualized care of African and Asian elephants. Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), here, elephants are free to enjoy rolling hills, forests, and lakes in the mild Tennessee weather.

The Sanctuary provides refuge for once captive elephants to freely roam, form social bonds with other elephants, and enjoy the simple pleasures of foraging, swimming, and of course, playing! 

Interestingly, this sanctuary is not open to the public and that is for a good reason! The Sanctuary was designed to provide its elephants with the peace they deserve, and without the presence of humans.

Meet Some Gentle Giants

Every elephant at The Sanctuary has a story, some of which might tug at your heart, others hopeful, but all are examples of resilience.

Flora

For example, Flora, an African elephant born in Zimbabwe and brough to the United States as a calf. She was trained to perform in circuses. When she arrived at The Sanctuary she was finally able to live her life as an elephant. Now, Flora spends her days enjoying her favorite food, which is watermelon, and wanders the vast, open spaces with her companions, Tange and Sukari.  Flora also enjoys toppling trees and splashing in the mud.

Billie

Billie is an Asian elephant born in India in 1962. It’s likely that Billie was also removed from the wild as a young elephant and brought to the United States. Billie has lived in zoos, performed in circuses, and was sadly housed in a small stall for 13 years.  A once nervous elephant, Billie has bonded with other elephants and today, she enjoys swimming with fellow elephant Ronnie and snacking on bananas.  

Sissy

Sissy, also an Asian elephant, was born in Thailand. As a calf, she was removed from the wild and brough to the United States to perform. Sissy spent most of her life in Texas zoos and arrived at The Sanctuary in 2000. Sissy uniquely communicates by flipping the end of her trunk to make a “popping” sound. Caregivers hear her when she is being social or playing with a new enrichment device.

Tara

Finally, meet Tara, The Sanctuary’s founding elephant. She is the first elephant to retire at The Elephant Sanctuary in 1995. Born in Myanmar, Tara was also removed from the wild as a calf. For eight years one of Tara’s companions at The Sanctuary was a small dog named Bella. Their unlikely friendship went viral and showed the world that friendship has no boundaries, even if it is between different species!

During Trunk Tales, you’ll get to learn more about these elephants plus other residents at the Elephant Sanctuary. You’ll also hear their stories from the people who care for them.

Education at The Elephant Sanctuary

Part The Sanctuary’s mission is “to educate the public of the complex needs of elephants and the crisis facing elephants in the wild”, therefore, they have made educating the public as accessible as possible by offering video experiences and creating The Elephant Discovery Center.

Also, you might wonder why people can’t visit the elephants at The Sanctuary. Well, the answer is peace. Many of these elephants were kept in stressful environments, often made to perform and watched by people. The Sanctuary was designed to give them a life free of human interference, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still see them!

EleCams

Introducing EleCams, The Sanctuary’s solar-powered video monitoring system inviting viewers to see three unique areas on the property. EleCams make it possible for individuals to see their elephants from anywhere around the world.

Additionally, you can visit http://bit.ly/EleCamscavengerhunt to download The Sanctuary’s EleCam Scavenger Hunt and try to find everything from elephants playing to their Caregivers at work!

The Elephant Discovery Center

The Elephant Discovery Center is in downtown Hohenwald. It features interactive exhibits and educational programs that explore the mission of The Sanctuary and the life of these gentle giants. Families, groups, and students are always welcome to visit The Elephant Discovery Center.

So,while you may not be able to visit the elephants in person, you can see them through The Sanctuary’s EleCams and learn about their individualized care with activities at the Discovery Center.

How You Can Help

If these stories resonate with you, there are a number of ways you can help support the great work they do and the elephants they care for.  

• Donate: Any donation goes to elephant care such as health and habitant maintenance.
• Volunteer: Become an EleAmbassador and help The Sanctuary with educating the public and sharing their mission.
• Shop for Cause: Shop The Elephant Sanctuary’s online store for unique appeal, stationary, accessories, and more.
• Adopt an Elephant: Symbolically adopt an elephant to support their care and receive monthly updates about how they are doing.
• Take a Pledge: Take a pledge to Speak Out, Shop Smart, Go Green, Travel Responsibly, or create your own. By pledging to one (or all) of these actions, you are doing your part to help retired elephants.
• Spread the Word: Share about The Sanctuary and help raise awareness the importance of proper treatment and conservation of animals. Tell your friends and family and share about it on your favorite social media platforms.

Your support helps ensure these elephants continue to live peaceful, happy lives – get involved today!

Trunk Tales: A K12 Virtual Field Trip

Finally, you’ll be supporting The Sanctuary by registering for the K12 virtual fieldtrip on March 4, at 4 PM ET. Join us for an incredible adventure and your chance to witness the magic of these beautiful creatures right from the comfort of your own home.

Be sure to visit https://www.elephants.com/ to learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary and to watch their EleCams. Register for Trunk Tales by visiting https://enrichment.k12.com/virtual-field-trips/ and get ready for an unforgettable animal adventure.

Mission

Provide elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being.

Educate the public of the complex needs of elephants and the crisis facing elephants in the wild.