The Elephant Sanctuary (Hohenwald)

Infobox zoo
zoo_name = The Elephant Sanctuary

logo_width = 250px


image_width =
image_caption =
date_opened = 1995
location = Hohenwald, Tennessee
USA
area = convert|1100|ha|acre|lk=on
coordinates = coord|35|35|38.72|N|87|35|6.24|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title
num_animals = 17
num_species = 2 species:
"Elephas maximus"
"Loxodonta africana"
annual_visitors = not open to public
members = The Association of Sanctuaries

website = http://www.elephants.com/

The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). As a member accredited by The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS), the sanctuary follows guidelines stipulated by TAOS, one of which is that none of the elephants be bred. [cite web | title=Care Guidelines for Captive Elephants | publisher=TAOS - The Association of Sanctuaries | url=http://www.taosanctuaries.org/news/eleguide.htm | date=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17] Its founders are current Executive Director, Carol Buckley, and Operations Director, Scott Blais.

At over convert|2700|acre|km2|0, sanctuary consists of three separate and protected, natural habitat environments for Asian and African elephants; a convert|2200|acre|km2|0 Asian facility, a convert|200|acre|km2|1 quarantine area and a convert|300|acre|km2|1 African habitat. The goal is to retire 100 elephants from zoos and circuses to the sanctuary.

Carol Buckley's personal elephant companion, Tarra was the inspiration for the sanctuary. After 15 years working in the circus Tarra needed a place to retire with her own kind with lots of space.

History

In 1995 The Elephant Sanctuary was started on convert|100|acre|km2|1 with one elephant, Tarra.

An internship program was established to train elephant caregivers in 1996.

A convert|9000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on barn was added in 1999.

In 2001 a convert|700|acre|km2|1 section of land with a 25 acre lake was acquired.

Another convert|1840|acre|km2|0 was purchased and the sanctuary expanded to convert|2700|acre|km2|0 in 2003.

In 2004 the first two African elephants were accepted into the new African habitat.

The existing herd of Asian elephants was relocated to a new convert|2200|acre|km2|0 habitat to accommodate eight incoming elephants who needed to be quarantined in 2005. This new area includes a convert|22000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on barn and convert|20000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on hay barn which is able to hold up to 35,000 bales of hay.

Facilities

The development of the Sanctuary was done in several stages. It was originally built in phases and then expanded whenever funding was available or the elephants needed more space or accommodation. Twenty miles of double fencing encloses The Elephant Sanctuary's convert|2700|acre|km2|0. In accordance with TWRA regulations and TAOS guidelines the quarantine area has a hot wire fence.

*It started in March 1995 with Phase I that included a heated barn, a convert|200|acre|km2|1 steel pipe and cable elephant corral, and a convert|222|acre|km2|1 perimeter "people" fence.

*More land, buildings and lakes were added until November 2004, when Phase I and Phase II were combined and remodelled to create a Quarantine Facility for sick elephants. The Quarantine Facility has a barn for TB exposed elephants and a completely separate area for TB positive elephants.

*In 2005 the Elephant Health and Welfare Institute headed by Dr. Susan Mikota was established.

* In January 2006 the new Asian elephant house was completed. [cite journal | author=Staff writers | title=The New Asian Elephant House: Our Members Made It Happen | work=Trunklines | publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary| url=http://www.elephants.com/pdf/Trunklines_Spring06.pdf| pages=p. 12 | month=Spring | year=2006 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

* In May 2007 Phase I of the Learning Center started with the purchase of two buildings in Downtown Hohenwald. These buildings have been designated as the Welcome Center.cite journal | author=Staff writers | title=Billie's Day | work=Trunklines | publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary | url=http://www.elephants.com/pdf/Trunklines_Spring_2008.pdf | pages=pp. 1, 3-6 | month=Spring | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

* The Elephant Health and Welfare Institute (EHWI) is now a fully functioning veterinary medical facility.

* More fencing has been added and a separate area has been created for Flora.

Population

Currently, the Elephant Sanctuary is home to fourteen Asian elephants and three African elephants. The goal is to accommodate 100 elephants.

November 23, 2003, Delhi, formerly owned by Hawthorn Corporation, was the first elephant to use the quarantine facility. She was confiscated by the USDA.

November 17, 2004, it became home to two Asian elephants named Lota and Misty who came from the Hawthorn Corporation, a company that trained and rented elephants to circuses, now widely known and fined for providing poor care for its elephants. Both Lota and Misty were diagnosed with a human strain of tuberculosis, a disease that was prevalent in the Hawthorn herd.

Lota died on February 9, 2005 of advanced tuberculosis.

On January 30, 2006 the first two of eight more Asian elephants arrived at the Sanctuary. Minnie and Lottie were joined in subsequent days by Queenie, Liz, Debbie, Ronnie, Billie and Frieda. Unfortunately, Sue died December 30, 2005 before she reached the Sanctuary. The additional eight elephants came from the Hawthorn Corporation.

On July 21, 2006 Winkie, a female Asian elephant, knocked down and stepped on Joanna Burke, 36, Winkie's caregiver for 6 years, while Joanna was going to look at a sting to one of Winkie's eyes. Joanna was killed instantly. Winkie also injured director Scott Blais who was trying to intervene. Winkie had a reputation as a dangerous animal while she was living in a zoo but it was clear by her actions that Winkie was not acting out aggressively any more than trying to indicate she had pain from the sting and the subsequent treatment. On July 25, it was released that Winkie will not be euthanized as per Joanna's wishes. A statement released by the Sanctuary stated the following: "Joanna made it perfectly clear in word and deed that no harm should come to any elephant no matter their action. She shared the Sanctuary's philosophy that Winkie will not be punished for her actions but managed in a way that keeps another innocent caregiver out of harm's way." Burke was interred on the grounds of the Sanctuary on July 26, 2006, as per her wishes.

On July 25, 2006 the Sanctuary announced it will be adjusting its protocol with regard to any elephants who are affected with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Sanctuary protocols are a set of standards of elephant care and management the Elephant Sanctuary staff follow when dealing with their elephants. Currently, two of the elephants at the Sanctuary, Winkie and Flora, have been diagnosed with PTSD. "In respect of their condition, caregivers will adjust how they physically interact with the elephants". [cite web | title=Media Corrections | work=Newsroom| publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary | url=http://www.elephants.com/pr/Media_Corrections_7_06 | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

On October 17, 2006, Jenny died from an undetermined illness. She was 34. [cite web | title=Jenny Passes | work=What's New | url=http://www.elephants.com/jenny/jenny_passes.htm| publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

Dulary, from the Philadelphia Zoo, arrived on May 1, 2007.

A long campaign to have Mona, the sole elephant at the Birmingham Zoo in Birmingham, Alabama moved to the Elephant Sanctuary ended when she was euthanized at the zoo on June 21, 2007.

On March 11, 2008, Delhi died at age 62(+). [cite web | title=In Memory of Delhi | publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary| url=http://www.elephants.com/delhi/delhistart_inmemory.htm| year=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

Queenie died on March 29, 2008, 18 days after her friend, Delhi. Both were formerly owned by the Hawthorn Corporation. [cite web | title=Queenie's Gift| publisher=The Elephant Sanctuary | url=http://www.elephants.com/queenie/queeniestart.htm | year=2008 | accessdate=2008-08-17]

Lucy aka Skanik of the Edmonton Valley Zoo born circa 1973 has a standing invitation to retire to the sanctuary because she suffers from a respiratory infection, chronic foot infections and arthritis.

Non-Invasive Research

* [http://www.elephanttrust.org/ Amboseli Trust for Elephants] - Researcher, Cynthia Moss
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/ The Elephant Listening Project] - Researcher, Katy Payne
* [http://www.elephantvoices.org/ Elephant Voices] - Researcher, Joyce Poole
* [http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2006/06/no_longer_a_mind_of_our_own.php PTSD and elephants] - Researcher, Gay Bradshaw
* [http://www.elephants.com/media/Elephant_breakdown_2005.pdf Social trauma in elephants] - Researcher, Gay Bradshaw, et al

Elephant Conservation Projects

* [http://www.eleaid.com/ EleAid - Asian Elephant Conservation Charity]
*Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand
* [http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust] , Tsavo East National Park, Nairobi, Kenya, Africa

References

External links

* [http://www.elephants.com The Elephant Sanctuary official website]
* [http://www.failuremag.com/arch_science_elephant_sanctuary.html "Girls, Girls, Girls"] - Bunny, Jenny and the 'Girls' of the Elephant Sanctuary Quietly Redefine the Model for Captive Elephant Care (June 2002)
* [http://www.rescuetheelephants.com/ Rescue the Elephants] - This site was created by an international group of individuals devoted to the welfare of captive elephants.
* [http://www.sanctuarydays.com/ Sanctuary Days] - This site features screen captures of the Asian and African elephants retired to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN, U.S.A.
* [http://elephant.elehost.com/About_Elephants/about_elephants.htm Elephant Information Repository] - An in-depth resource on elephants
* [http://www.elephants.com/joanna/joanna_burke_7_24_06.htm Tragic accident]
* [http://www.elephants.com/joanna/JoannaBurke_inMemory.htm In Memory of Joanna Burke]
* [http://www.elephants.com/winkie/winkiebio.htm Winkie's story]