FALL 2008

dd

dddd

501 (C) (3) Nonprofit Organization

d

Tarra
Bella

d

d

d

d

d

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

d

d

d

d

dd ddd

d

ddd

dd
d

ddd

d

dd

d

d

d

d

A Match Made in Ele-HeavenIn the secrecy of the wooded back hills of rural Tennessee
an unusual relationship had developed. Some speculated but
no one really knew what attracted the two opposites or thelength of time their enchanting relationship had gone
undetected. What we do know is that on the surface it
appeared that these two had little in common; one was
singularly focused and soft spoken, even a little shy, but aproud territorial type with an appetite for meat. The other agregarious chatterbox with a wandering nature and a taste
for a plant-based diet. This remarkable friendship could beconsidered a love story of sorts; definitely what fairy tales
are made of. Their heartwarming relationship continues today, bringing us all hope that one day humans may too learn
to overlook our differences and embrace our commonalities.
What a world that would be, like living in elephant heaven.

The Sanctuary ele-cam has proven to be an invaluable
tool to monitor our elephants’ behavior. Tracking theirprogress enables us to compile footage and observation
data that might otherwise go unnoticed. On this sunnyspring morning, the silence was pierced only by the
chirping birds darting in and out of tree branches andthe distant trumpet of elephants frolicking in theupper pond. The ele-cam was busy as usual, scanningthe pastures and woods, finally resting in a holding
pattern as the familiar antics of Jenny, Shirley and
Bunny were captured as they splashed wildly in thesmall pond perched on a knoll nestled at the edge of
the woods. Jenny flung her legs into the air in a gangly
display of elephant acrobatics as Shirley plunged headfirst into the soft mud bottom of the swimming hole.
Bunny’s slow methodical movements looked somewhat
out of sync with the fevered frenzy displayed by Jenny.
All was well at the upper pond. The ele-cam left thepond to scan the pastures looking for others that might
be napping, grazing, foraging or engaged in social
activity. As the camera scanned the front 40-acres,across the lower pond and along the fence line at
the 5-oaks, it froze. The pasture grasses were alreadyseveral feet tall so close examination was required toinsure that anything at or below grass level did not
go unnoticed. The elecam hovered, zoomed in, pannedout, zoomed in again and then moved slightly fromright and then left finally hovering on an object which
resembled a large gray boulder.
It was a common site to see elephants sleeping in the
pastures during the daylight hours taking advantage of thewarming effect of the sun. Elephants sleep while absorbing a reserve of heat to use at night when the temperaturedrops and they need an internal heater. Elephants haveone of the most impressive natural heating and coolingsystems in the animal kingdom. Instead of burning calories
attempting to repel the heat, their bodies are designed toabsorb the heat and store it in their core as a reserve to be
used to heat themselves overnight.
Upon closer examination the ele-cam revealed a sleeping
elephant, reclined on her right side, partially hidden by
the lush grasses and shadows cast by the expansive canopy..continued on page 3

501 (C) (3) Nonprofit Organization

The Elephant Sanctuary is accredited by
The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS), and islicensed by the United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency (TWRA).

P.O. Box 393
Hohenwald, TN 38462
PHONE: 931-796-6500
FAX: 931-796-1360
elephant@elephants.com
Trunklines Contributors
Writers/Editors
Sanctuary Staff
Carolyn Stalcup
Designer
Sherle Raitt
Production
Betsy Dodd
Selected Photography
Sanctuary Staff

Our Mission

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee,founded in 1995, is the nation’s largest
natural-habitat refuge developed
specifically for endangered elephants. It
operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald,
Tennessee—85 miles southwest of
Nashville.

Scott, Tarra and Carol

Directors’ VoiceIn this season of warm humid days our girls continue to thrive. Dulary and
Misty’s daily pond antics bring a smile to our faces. Flora, Zula and Tange
have given a seal of approval on their newest fencing project; hopefully they
will soon be joined by another African beauty.
Billie, Frieda and Liz spend hours lounging in the lower pond together in thelate afternoon, while Tarra and Bella wander their expansive domain in searchof their friends and new adventures. You deserve to share in their joys as you
have made all of this possible. Your continued support helps us provide thissafe haven for captive elephants.
NamasteCarol & Scott

The Elephant Sanctuary exists for two
reasons:
To provide a haven for old, sick,or needy elephants in a setting ofgreen pastures, hardwood forests,
spring-fed ponds, and heated barns
for cold winter nights.
To provide education about thecrisis facing these social, sensitive,
passionately intense, playful, complex, exceedingly intelligent, andendangered creatures.
To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary
and all of the resident elephants, visit:2

www.elephants.com

In This Issue
A Match Made in Ele-Heaven. . . . . . . . 1
Directors’ Voice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
An Aging Population. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ringling Lawsuit Update. . . . . . . . . . . 8
Dulary and Misty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A. Christy Williams’ 5-Year Report . . . . 9

Ele-Kids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10-11
Jenny in Dallas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Paving The Way Campaign . . . . . . . . 12
Ways You Can Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Sanctuary Merchandise. . . . . . . . . . . 14
Farewell Higgins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

d

dddd

d

d

d

d

dd

Tarra ... (cont.)
oak trees. The slow rhythmic
Bella ofrisematureand fall of her belly was hypnotically

d

d

d

dd

ddd

ddd

dd

d

d

dd ddd

d

d

d

d

d

d

d

synchronized with the gentle flap of an ear
which floated up and down, as effortlessly as a butterfly. Her
face was partially hidden, but even so it was unmistakably
Tarra. The camera remained focused. Soon every caregiverin the barn was aware of the novel sight just captured on
the ele-cam; Tarra sleeping during the day. It was common
knowledge that Tarra felt comfortable enough to sleep justabout anywhere; inside or out, but never before had she
been found sleeping during the daylight hours. The first
response was of concern for Tarra’s well-being; what had
caused her to act in such an uncharacteristic way? Could she
be ill? Might she be injured? Then, as if responding to thecollective concern, Tarra began to wake from her nap. The
camera zoomed in as close as possible, scanning her back leg
as she lifted it in her effort to rise. The camera panned fromleg to leg, across the length of her massive body, back to
her legs, finally resting on her face as Tarra gracefully rose toher full standing position, sleepy eyed and calm. Instead of
wandering off for a snack or the company of other elephants,
Tarra, in the classic elephant fashion, slowly turned aroundand proceeded to lie down again, this time on the opposite
side that she had been sleeping when first discovered by theele-cam. Her flowing movement and relaxed facial expression
indicated that all was well, Tarra was fine. The caregivers
were all a-buzz to be privy to another first captured on theele-cam. Recovery comes in many ways; for Tarra, sleeping
outside during the day was a sign of continuing wellness.
As caregivers began to disperse, the ele-cam caught a
glimpse of something moving in the lush grasses where Tarra
lay sleeping. The movement did not disturb Tarra but caught
the attention of all still viewing the scene. The object ofeveryone’s attention had waited to move until Tarra had lain
down and was completely still. The grasses parted as a small
golden-white object moved closer to Tarra. Eyes transfixed,
caregivers held their breath—could this be possible? The

Bella is completely comfortable...

Who’s guarding whom?

Dinner is so much better with company.

ele-cam captured it, an image not to be believed; Bella, arecently rescued mixed breed dog was moving seriously close
to Tarra and then stopped. In what appeared to be deep
concentration, Bella circled slowly three times and then lay
down and curled up quite cozily in the matted grass only feetfrom Tarra’s head. The stunned caregivers were speechless…
for about a minute.
..continued on page 4

around her much larger best friend!

3

d

dddd

d

d

d

d

dd

Tarra ... (cont.)
Bella

d

d

d

dd

ddd

ddd

dd

d

d

dd ddd

d

d

d

d

d

d

she guarded it with fervor, making it difficult for caregivers
who needed to use the vehicle numerous times a day. If
the camera was not playing tricks on us, it seemed that
Tarra had once again defied all odds by befriending a canine
which by all accounts appeared to be equally fond of her.

d

As the days passed, the ele-cam followed Tarra and Bella,documenting their activities. They appeared to be inseparable with Bella keeping guard for any possible threat. We
began to believe that Bella’s attraction to Tarra was one ofduty; she acted as Tarra’s bodyguard, from what no one wasquite sure. Bella would rise from a sound sleep, running
after some invisible threat, barking fiercely. When satisfied
that the coast was clear, she would return to Tarra, scan
the area one more time and then settle into a comfortable
position, close to Tarra, always watchful, as Tarra grazed.
She could be heard after dark barking hysterically at someperceived danger, a fox, a skunk or even a coyote thatdared to cross the path shared by Tarra and the elephantson their nightly explorations, driving the intruder deep into
the woods.
Always together

The ele-cam headquarters erupted in cheers. Wide-eyedand smiling, everyone was in disbelief. No one knew better
than her caregivers how much Tarra loved dogs, ever since
she was a calf. Over the years, her attraction to dogs was
met with a variety of responses, most commonly the curled
upper lip snarl, followed by a growl and a nip from sharp
teeth, or a tucked tail fleeing the scene. Luckily over theyears Tarra’s family included many dogs. Many accepted
Tarra’s need to pet, although their motivation was lessabout Tarra’s need and more about the accolades they received from their caregiver. The amount of pets and praise
each dog received from their caregiver was multiplied
whenever they allowed Tarra to smother them with affection. Some of the dogs were more accommodating thanothers, but never before had a dog enlisted Tarra’s company, like this, on her own accord. What was so bewildering
was that Bella had not once been encouraged to accept
Tarra’s physical attention which made the situation withthe two even more astonishing. This relationship, whatever
it was, had formed without any human intervention.
So who was this little stray dog? What life had she lived
before arriving at the Sanctuary? What secrets did she
have? What secrets was she sharing with Tarra? Rescued
and named Bella when she was found abandoned on a
newly acquired tract of land in 2002, we soon noticed that
Bella had a propensity for guarding things, especially large,
noisy things. When found, she was guarding a dozer as if
her life depended on it, with furious barks and intimidating lunges. When moved to the elephant barn, she immediately fixated on the 4-wheeler which became her job;

4

Tarra was ecstatic about the arrangement. Bunny, Shirley
and Jenny were not thrilled about this newcomer. At every
opportunity they tried to scare Bella away, throwing sticks
and debris in her direction and Shirley even rushing herfrom time to time. Tarra would come sauntering into theopen glade where her sisters were preoccupied with grazing
and then Bella would bound in, scan the scene and set up
her look-out post. Shirley would trumpet her disapproval,
Bunny joined in with a squeak or two as Jenny hurled astick in Bella’s direction. Tarra would chatter and rush overto her dog, reaching gently in her direction to make sure
all was well. Bella would stand her ground, plop down on
her haunches facing outside of the imaginary circle she haddrawn, daring any intruder to try to get past her.
It took weeks, maybe months, for Jenny, Shirley and Bunny
to finally accept that Tarra had an unusual friend who went
everywhere with her—including visiting, eating and sleeping with them. They were not pleased, but finally resigned
themselves to the fact that this relationship was important
to Tarra and that they would just have to grow comfortablewith it. And they did, mostly.
Over the next many months and years the ele-cam continued to capture this endearing spectacle of a dog andher best friend. Not only the well-recorded nap times but
also as they made their way across the open pasture, Tarra
grazing the luscious pastures with Bella hopping throughthe tall grass searching for something to chase. When Tarra
would remain in the blazing sun, Bella would find shelter from the heat under Tarra’s ample belly. Early in theirrelationship Tarra was anxious to pet Bella, whose convincing growl let Tarra know that to touch would be cross-When diets are delivered to the elephants out in the
habitat, Bella’s food dish is on the top of the stack. When
the water wagon arrived to quench the thirst of elephants
foraging in a remote location, Bella comes bounding up,
barking wildly, insisting that her bowl be filled with cool
fresh water so she can drink alongside Tarra. All of theelephants have adapted beautifully to their larger, wilder
domain, with Bella as the self appointed ele-guard.

A daily stroll for this amazing twosome

ing some unacceptable personal boundary. Chirping her
protests, Tarra would retract her trunk and protectively
hold it under her chin as if she believed that dear Bella
would actually bite her. Being persistent yet respectful,
Tarra learned that although Bella would not yet allow
Tarra to use her trunk to stroke her, she would allow Tarra
to gently and most carefully use the heal of a lifted footto steal a touch. Bella allowed this affection and in time
grew to feel safe enough to allow Tarra to touch her with
her trunk. In a heart-melting display of trust and affection Bella can now be seen running full speed up to Tarra,
throwing herself playfully at her feet, flopping over onto
her back inviting Tarra to give her a tummy rub. Tarra’s
squeaks of pure joy are undeniable as she reaches down
and ever so gently pets Bella; this wonderful little dogthat has so enriched her life.
When the cool nights of winter draw Tarra into the heatedbarn, Bella is always right at her heels. Claiming a stall
for themselves, Bella stretches casually then surveys thearea, picking out a comfortable place to settle in on theheated, padded floor for the night, snuggling into a pileof fresh hay. In the morning, Bella can be found in one oftwo places; out in the habitat alongside Tarra, or on thesame pile of hay with Tarra hovering over her. Even when
Bella’s bed consists of the very last speck of edible hay,
Tarra permits her dear friend the luxury, allowing Bella toremain perched on her throne, even though all elephanteyes are fixed on the last tasty morsel of hay left inside
the barn.
When Tarra migrated to the New Asia habitat in the winterof 2006, the move was an adventure that was shared with
Bella, of course, and things changed. New Asia was not
equipped with the ele-cam, so sightings of Tarra and Bella
became folklore of sorts, with caregivers passing on what
they had seen of the two during their daily visits in the
habitat. Years have passed and the common sight of Tarra
and Bella seems no more remarkable than our other bonded girls who spend every moment of every day together.

One day in April of 2007 Bella was not with Tarra at themorning feed, unusual indeed. The caregiver called for
Bella several times. Thinking positively, the caregiverthought that perhaps Bella was engaged in her selfimposed elephant security duties. Knowing that the water
wagon was scheduled to arrive in an hour or so, the caregiver returned to the barn with three empty feed buckets
and Bella’s dish, still full. Sharing the information about
Bella with co-workers, the dog dish was once again takenout to the habitat along with the water wagon. But when
it arrived, there stood Shirley, Bunny and Tarra and still no
Bella. Although Tarra stood calmly in the tall grass, there
was an undercurrent of concern. The water wagon returnedto the barn and caregivers were reminded to keep a positive outlook, not panic, but to go back into the habitat tolook for Bella.
Tarra was found standing in the exact same location where
she had been at the a.m. feed, and again when the water
wagon arrived—an observation both interesting and uncharacteristic. Then a glimpse of gold, a quarter inch sizereflection of an unmatched color caught the eye of the
caregiver. All green but one tiny spot of gold, out of place,a cause for investigation. The tiny gold spot turned out tobe the only spot of Bella’s coat that could be seen above
the shallow depression where Bella lay. She was on herside, almost her back, smiling, breathing, leaning against
the churt embankment, unable to move from the waist
down. She was surrounded by footprints left by Tarra who
had moved a few feet away to partake of the hay recently

Bella “protects” the Girls from a young Riley

5

d

dddd

d

d

d

d

dd

Tarra ... (cont.)
nearby. Bella was alive but not
Bella dropped
okay; something was wrong. As the care-

d

d

d

dd

ddd

ddd

dd

d

d

dd ddd

d

d

d

d

d

d

d

giver lifted Bella, a warm liquid streamed
down her arm; the caregiver, upon reflection, was thankfulthat it was not blood. Bella looked up, her soulful eyes
appearing thankful for being discovered. Tarra had beenstanding guard, watching over her injured friend for nearly
twelve hours; they had both been waiting. Unfortunately,when the caregivers arrived with food and water, Tarra walked
towards them, leaving Bella in the shallow depression. Fromher vantage point, eight feet above the ground, Tarra could
still see Bella but her caregivers could not.
Surprisingly, Tarra did not protest when Bella was placed on
the 4-wheeler and driven out of her sight. In the past, if
Bella would jump onto the 4-wheeler for a ride Tarra would
chatter and follow in anticipation of the fun that might
follow but in this situation she stood quietly and watched
her friend disappear through the woods.
Bella was rushed to the veterinarian. The extent of her
injuries would not be known for weeks, and whether she
would ever walk again could not be predicted. It was suggested that she experienced a spinal injury as result of an
awkward twist, perhaps leaping over a fallen tree in pursuitof some wildlife. Over the next several weeks Bella remainedin the New Asia barn office, immobile, able to observe thepanoramic view the second story glass office provided but
unable to walk, paralyzed from the waist down.
Bella received around-the-clock veterinary care, medicationand physical therapy. In addition to the prescribed therapy,
she also received Jin Shin Jyutsu and acupuncture treatments. Several days into her recovery Bella tried to bite theveterinarian during an acupuncture treatment. It was atthat moment that we knew Bella was on the road to recovery. Never one to allow physical attention from strangers
or casual acquaintances, Bella was known to choose who
was allowed to touch her. In her weakened state, a varietyof physical treatments were allowed to be administered bystrangers but when she started feeling better she began tolimit who would be allowed to touch her in such a personal
way. We were encouraged.
All this time Tarra remained out in the habitat with Shirley
and Bunny. She never appeared anxious or concerned, butthen in the second week of Bella’s recovery Tarra returned tothe barn. Uncharacteristically, Tarra headed in the directionof the office balcony where she stood silently. Caregivers
immediately fetched Bella and took her downstairs to where
Tarra waited. The reunion was sweet and low key. Tarra wasrespectful, not grabbing Bella but gently smelling her. Bella

6

Bella takes advantage of the shade created by Tarra on
a hot daysquirmed, and when laid on the ground glanced up at Tarra
with those soulful eyes, appearing ever grateful to see her
friend. After several minutes Bella tired, and caregivers
once again gathered Bella in their arms telling both that
Bella needed the rest. Tarra stood as Bella was taken away
but remained in the vicinity for the remainder of the day.
The next many days found Tarra standing under the officebalcony and Bella barking to join her friend. Caregivers
obliged and feasted on the relationship shared by these
two unlikely friends. At no time did Tarra become impatientand Bella always allowed herself to be taken back to rest.
After three weeks of rehabilitation it was obvious that
Bella could be allowed to spend some time in the habitatwith Tarra.
Although their time together was limited and monitored,
Bella and Tarra appeared to savor each moment. Bella’s
mobility was severely limited but each day she appeared torecover a little bit more. After many days of spending only
daylight hours in the habitat and nighttime hours in the
rehab office, Bella and Tarra were finally reunited. Experiencing first hand the joy on both their faces cannot be
described. To be continued...
To celebrate thesetwo devoted friends,
The Sanctuary has
created a brand new
Tarra and Bellacolor t-shirt inadult and childrens
sizes! (To order, seepage 15 or visit our gift
shop on the website)An Aging Population
You may not have ever considered the fact that the captive
population of Asian elephants living in the United States
is aging. The species was declared endangered in 1974,
resulting in an immediate decline in the number of Asianelephants imported into the US. Prior to the declaration
intended to protect the species, baby elephants were
imported by the hundreds. A constant flow of imports kept
zoo exhibits and circuses well stocked with what they to thisday proclaim to be their greatest attraction. Currently, alimited number of Asian elephants are permitted to beimported under a strict protocol designed to enhance captive
breeding. The taking of a wild elephant to supplement thecaptive population is represented as an effort to stave off
extinction, but there is no science to support the claim; inreality, the activity may have the opposite effect.
Since captive elephant breeding programs are designed toensure a self-sustaining captive population, attempts are notmade to introduce captive born elephants into the wild. This
information is not offered as a recommendation, much the
opposite, with the elephant/human conflict at an all timehigh in Southeast Asia, sending any captive breed elephantinto the wild to try to eke out a living and help keep theirfamily safe from harm would be an irresponsible action. So
the question must be raised, why does the United States
government allow elephants to be imported when captive
breeding programs, which experience such limited success,deplete the wild population without every giving back theequivalent of what was taken? While pondering thecomplex and heated subject regarding captive breeding of
this endangered species, let us focus on what we can impact:
the welfare of the elephants within our borders, a majority ofwhom are over the age of thirty.
Today, approximately three hundred Asian elephants live inzoos and circuses in North America (over two thirds of themfemales), nearly all were wild caught and imported before
1974. According to the North American Regional Studbook,the average age of the female Asian elephants is 39, with
71% of the population over the age of 35. These statistics
are relevant as they point to the questionable likelihood of
this species’ future in captivity, but even more important is
the reality of the changing needs of this aging population.
An aging individual’s health requirements can be drasticallydissimilar to its needs as a teenager or young adult.
Multiply that need by nearly three hundred individuals,
further complicated by captivity-induced health issues
currently documented in the population, health issues
resulting from decades of confinement, and it becomes
obvious that a great challenge awaits the institutions
currently housing elephants. Although euthanasia appears tobe the current treatment of choice in modern zoos, one canonly hope that a respectful and humane program of
hospice care can be adopted as an option for thoseindividuals who have reached their life’s end, allowing
them to die peacefully in their own time.
The Sanctuary is designed by philosophy, facility andstaffing to take on the role of caregiver for members of
this aging population. Give us your old, your sick, yoursolitary; we accept them joyfully as we are equipped toprovide for their special needs. Our focus is the day-today needs of all of our residents, and nothing could be
more important to us than to provide specialized care forailing elephants to ensure their comfort and a peacefultransition. We work diligently to ensure that ourelephants live a healthy life and we accept the inevitable.
Out of respect for their lives, and in honor of their dying
process, we provide hospice care.
So what is our philosophy? What makes us specialized?
How do aging elephants benefit under our care? The best
way to answer these questions is to define living at theSanctuary. The experience is akin to receiving the motherlode of retirement packages; an open-ended vacation
getaway to the location of your choice for you and tenof your closest friends, free of charge. This might be how
it appears to Shirley, the senior member of our family. At
sixty-two Shirley might view the Sanctuary in this way.
For those who do not bring a herd of friends with them,
they are sure to make plenty of friends after they arrive.
The meals are free for the taking, grazing and foraging,and the pools are always open, cannon balls are allowed
and no life guard is required. The numerous self-serve
mud bath spas which Mother Nature refreshes often are
in easy walking distance from any location and are open
24/7. Room service is prompt and delivered by a smilingcaregiver many times a day. There is no need to worry
about getting lost when wandering off the beaten path;the caregivers seem to have a sixth sense when it comesto locating all the guests. Getting from one point ofinterest to another is no problem either; you can walk,jog or run, helping yourself to a variety of nature’s tasty
treats along the way. Even those with physical handicaps can enjoy the amenities, walking the distances justmight take them a little longer. For those that arrive withfeet too sore to walk, soothing foot baths are provided,
followed by topical and oral remedies. Weight gains for
those who arrive underweight and raucous social gatherings are mandatory. If you are feeling poorly, a physician will make a house call or habitat call, whichever isrequired, day or night. Your condition will be evaluatedby an expert in the field; treatment will be administered7

An Aging Population... (cont.)

Dulary and Misty

wherever your wanderings have led you. In the sad eventthat you lose a loved one while with us, provisions will bemade to allow you to grieve the loss in your time and yourway. Natural supportive remedies are provided for thoseindividuals who find the loss painfully difficult. In theevent that you lash out in aggression or fall into
depression, every effort will be made to identify the sourceof the problem, and changes will be implemented,
designed to bring you back to a state of wellness.
Management assumes all responsibility; no harm will cometo you following an outburst.
If you choose to spend some personal time alone innature, you will not be disturbed, but welcomed back byyour friends with hugs and cheers as if you had been gone
for years. Refreshments are provided at many turns in the
trail; you are welcome to drink from the spring-fed creeks,stainless steel drinkers or directly from the hose, whatever
you prefer. Expect to be visited by the roving water wagon
if you choose to spend time in the outback.
When you feel a nap coming on, the option is yours:
return to a man-made structure to rest in a bed of hay
and shavings, or camp out under the open skies. In either
case, your regularly scheduled snacks will be delivered
promptly to your location. Management only requests thatyou enjoy each and every day of your stay.
Compiling data that supports our work and providing carefor the special needs of aging captive elephants are twothings that we take seriously. Realistically, we cannot save
all captive elephants. We can hardly do more for wild elephants than save them the harm of stealing their babies.
Perhaps the most we can do is to focus on the well-beingof the elephants in our care.

Ringling Lawsuit Update

Just when we think more joy is impossible, something like
Dulary and Misty happens.
Like two giggly school girls running hand in hand, wrappedwildly in their friendship, Dulary and Misty are literally abundle of joy. Watching them dance around each other,playful, bodies gently touching as they glide in graceful
circles around the other, it is not hard to see how muchthey care for each other. They appear to enjoy so many of
the same things; swims in Dulary’s pond, sand baths, afternoon naps and endless chatter. They even share the samelanguage. These two beauties spend every moment of theirtime together—they are inseparable.
When Misty would prefer a swim in the pond over a siesta
in the south yard, she simply walks a few yards away from
Dulary, turns broadside to her dear friend and bellows at
the top of her lungs. Watch out, because Misty will notneed to bellow a second time; once is all it takes for Dulary
to break into a full run. Together they do their dainty dance
to the pond. Misty picks up the pace and Dulary maneuvers
in front of Misty, together they see-saw their way down thepath, taking advantage of every opportunity to touch eachother along the way. Their endless activity and engaging
conversations are seriously endearing.

The lawsuit brought by several animal welfare groups
and a former Ringling Bros. employee is scheduled tobe heard October 20 in U.S. District Court inWashington, D.C. As outlined in our Spring 2008
Trunklines, this lawsuit alleges that the forceful use
of bullhooks and the constant chaining andconfinement of the animals unlawfully “takes” theAsian elephants in violation of the Endangered
Species Act. “Takes” includes acts that “harm, wound,injure, harass, or kill” an endangered species in thewild or in captivity.

8

A joyous frolic in the pond for Misty and Dulary

A. Christy Williams’ 5-Year Report on Elephant Populations in India
The Elephant Sanctuary has supported A. Christy Williams’
work in India for several years. The Sanctuary’s premise isthat there is no better place for the Asian elephant than in
its native ranges and that these ranges must be protected
and enhanced.
Recently, Dr. Williams has submitted his final reports on
two five year projects which monitor the age-sex ratio in
Rajaji and Corbett National Parks in India from 2002-2007.
These two studies provide valuable information about theelephant population in this important elephant habitat
located in the Northwest corner of India. This detailed
study on the elephant demography actually began in 1996,
so with the completion of this five year report, there are
now twelve years of data.
Since the Asian elephant population is endangered, thesestatistical population studies are essential to help manage the elephant populations. After a disconcerting 2001,
where there was an increase in male elephant deaths due
to poaching, the results of this current study indicate thatthe population’s age-sex ratios are relatively stable. This
collection of elephant demographics will aid the government’s conservation efforts by the regular monitoring ofthese statistics. Christy states: From the analysis of thedata over the last five years from the western part of Rajaji
National Park, it appears that the elephant population isstill maintaining a very healthy adult sex ratio of 1 male:
2.65 females. The Rajaji Elephant population is looking
demographically very healthy from an assessment of their

A herd of Asian elephants in the Rajaji National Parkage-sex ratios. We believe with the current levels of protection and management, this population will continue togrow. However, the decline in percentage of adult females
accompanied by a young elephant (< 5 years) has dropped
when compared with data from ten years ago and therefore should be a cause for concern. The detection of suchchanges in the percentage of adult females accompanied
by a young elephant would not have been possible with asingle time period study, and therefore it is important tocontinue this long term study of their age-sex parameters.
We need to start researching the impact of habitat quality
on elephant reproduction and calf survival in Rajaji NP tofigure out whether it is a factor in the measured decline incalves and juveniles.
The second study was done in Corbett National Park.
Christy and his team captured each member of an elephant group on video, converted the video to digital files
and then classified each elephant. The conclusions werealso encouraging.
Christy writes: “The Corbett Elephant population is looking
demographically very healthy from an assessment of theirage-sex ratios. We believe with the current levels of protection and management that this population will continue togrow. However, it is important to continue this long term
study of their age-sex parameters so that in the future if
factors such as habitat quality or poaching starts affecting
the elephant population fecundity and calf survival, we will
be able to pick these up early and take remedial measures.”9

Ele-Kids Fun & Facts
Hey Kids ~Find all of
the elephantsthat live at
The Elephant
Sanctuary!

Flora
Fun
Facts

Flora is the youngest elephant at The Elephant Sanctuary—she is
only 26 years old.
Flora snores very loud and can be heard from far away.
Her favorite food is bananas and her belly is frequently referred to as
her “banana belly”.
Flora loves peanut butter.
At dinner time Flora likes to peel her cabbage leaf by leaf using thefinger on the end of her trunk.
Flora enjoys being washed with the pressure washer in hot weather. This is followed by a mud bath from the mud hole, and the last
step is a dust bath. This helps protect her from sunburns and helps
keep the biting insects off her skin.
Flora pushes down trees—this is how elephants create open spaces inAfrica.
Flora has fun popping open her pumpkins. She gently places her footon the pumpkin and presses waiting for the “pop”. Then she gobbles
up the pieces of pumpkin.
Flora’s other favorite thing to do is “trunk wrestle” with Tange. Tangeand Zula are the other two African elephants in the Sanctuary’s
African habitat.

10

Flora is an African elephant and you can read all about
her at http://www.elephants.com/flora/florastart.htm

How many different kindsof hats can an elephant wear?

****

See below.

To find out go to this link on The Elephant Sanctuary website ~http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/ram/Straw_Hat.ram
11Please join us today, become a founding supporter of The
Paving the Way Campaign
Education Gallery and/or sponsor a brick paver. Visit
www.theelephantsanctuary.com.
Kicks Off for The Elephant
Sanctuary Education Gallery Jenny
As we eagerly await the sound of hammers to begin theconstruction of the Education Gallery including the Visitor’sCenter and Gift Shop, funds are being raised through thesponsorship of brick pavers. Reserving pavers in memory of
loved ones and honoring friends and family with a space inthe walkway to the new Education Gallery are all helping
fund the construction of this public facility in downtown
Hohenwald. Only funds directly earmarked for the Education
Gallery will be used in its construction and operation. The
pavers will become a permanent part of the visitors’ walkway
into the building and the beginning of the visitors’
educational experience.
One member surprised her mother with a paver engraved with
her name in celebration of her birthday while anotherhonored the memory of a dearly loved one “who loved
elephants and would have loved this special project”. And adog named “Lucky” will also have a brick paver purchased bya supporter who considers him a very special friend. Members
and supporters share their own stories as they help pave theway for Our Girls to tell the world their true life stories.
The Elephant Sanctuary’s Education Gallery provides anopportunity for Our Girls’ voices to be heard. We believe
their tales of survival will provide a powerful impact on the
education of all who visit the Education Gallery and helpchange the plight of elephants held in captivity.

Around the Sanctuary
Dularyhas a real
blast inher pond!

Zula enjoys arefreshing drinkof spring water.

12

Jenny is a thirty-one-year-old African elephant living alone
in the Dallas Zoo where she has lived since 1986. She once
shared her quarters with Vasha where, according to the In
Defense of Animals (IDA) website, she demonstrated dominance behaviors leading to her being medicated. When Vasha
was taken away, Jenny spent two years alone until Keke arrived, providing her companionship until her death in May ofthis year. On June 24, the Dallas Zoo announced that Jennywould be moved to Africam Safari Park in Puebla, Mexico.
A local citizen’s group called Concerned Citizens for Jennyformed in objection to the decision to move Jenny to
Mexico. Both the Dallas Zoo Director Gregg Hudson and City
Councilwoman Angela Hunt each visited Africam, as wellas The Elephant Sanctuary. With a remarkable public outcry
from their constituents, the Dallas City Council continued
the debate on Jenny’s future. Some members have asked thezoo to consider other alternatives, including The Elephant
Sanctuary.
The media coverage about Jenny’s future went national —including The New York Times and the Associated Press. On
August 20, The Zoo issued a press release saying city officials
have decided that the best option is for Jenny to remain at
the Dallas Zoo. Plans for a new elephant habitat have been
expedited and officials are finalizing details to welcome a
new African elephant to serve as Jenny’s companion.

Shirley frolics
in the mud...
not reallyacting her age!

Billy and Frieda hide out in the lush forest vegetation.

Ways You Can Help the Sanctuary
You can contribute in as many ways as you’d like, in your own
name or in honor or memory of a friend or family member.
Contributions can be on a one-time basis or once a month for
as long as you specify.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a non-profit 501(c)(3)corporation. Your donations to any of the programs below aretax deductible.
Use the form on the enclosed envelope to provide informationand indicate which giving program you have chosen. Be sure
to include the name and address for any “In Honor” gifts so
we can send the honoree(s) a certificate and Trunklines.

Membership

Choose your level and become part of the nation’s largest natural-habitat sanctuary for old, sick, and needy elephants retired
from circuses and zoos. Members receive a certificate and subscription to Trunklines for a year. Give a membership as a gift
and you also get an elephants.com sticker for your window.
Donor Society___________________________________$10,000+$5,000–$9,999$1,000–$4,999$500–$999$100–$499

Friends
Founder
Benefactor
PatronSustainer
Supporter

Feed for a Day
Tarra, Bunny, Shirley, Sissy, Winkie,
Tange, Zula, Flora, Misty, Billie, Debbie,
Frieda, Liz, Lottie, Minnie, Ronnie andDulary eat a lot of food! You can help
by feeding any or all of them for a day,a week, or...$30 feeds one elephant for
one day.
Just tell us which elephant you’d liketo feed and how often. Every “Feed for a Day” donor receives
a certificate and a bio with a picture of the elephant(s) you
fed.
You can contribute in as many ways as you’d like, in yourown name or in honor of a friend or family member. Contributions can be all at once or once a month for as long as
you specify.
$30 x ______(# of days) x ______ (# of elephants) = $_____$15 T-shirt ~ (includes shipping/handling) & b/w photo ofyour favorite elephant _____________ : $_____________Name of Elephant*Note: Divas’ t-shirt is the Caravan to Freedom design.

____________________________$75 Associate$50 Family$30 Individual$10 Elder/Student

Acres for Elephants
Be the first in your group, neighborhood, classroom, or
office to buy real estate for elephants. Help the
Sanctuary’s expansion by giving elephants the room theyneed to roam. All Acres for Elephants donors receive asubscription to Trunklines.
Senior/Student/Group/Club $25 x _______ = $_______-SSqE/Square Elephant: space for 8 elephants tostand in a tight group, or-SSqE/Sleepy Square: space for 5 sister elephants
to nap side by sideThis donation receives a Sanctuary poster

Dumbo$55 x _______ = $_______Space for a small herd of elephants to stand ~ 1,440 sq. ft
This donation generates a certificate to the recipient

Jumbo$350 x _______ = $_______Space for a big herd of elephants to stand ~ 1/4 acre
This donation generates a certificate to the recipient

Mammoth
$1,400 x _______ = $_______Space for a herd of elephants to spread out ~ 1 acre
This donation generates a certificate and a free Sanctuary logo t-shirt.
Please specify size: q (M) q (L) q (XL)13

Elephant Sanctuary MerchandiseNEW!

Use the order form envelope inside this newsletteror shop online at: www.elephants.com/estore

Books

by Carol Buckley“Just For Elephants” or “Travels With Tarra” - $17.00

Dulary Mug - $ 15.00

Make every morning a Sanctuary morning with ourbeautiful new mug featuring a color wrap-around photoof Dulary, our newest resident!

Autographed by Carol Buckley - $30.00
Both books are hardcover; ideal for grades 3-7.
–JFE Book & Jenny Tote both autographed by Carol Buckley $100
–TWT Book autographed by Carol Buckley & stamped w/ Tarra’s signature $100

Videos“All Of Our Girls...So Far” - $30.00

Grab some popcorn and get ready to meet all 23 of
the Sanctuary elephants featured in the order they
arrived, with sounds and vocalizations wheneveravailable, along with a bonus track commentary
by Executive Director Carol Buckley. 45 minutes inlength.
(DVD ONLY)“Dulary’s Homecoming”$15.00“Information Video”$15.00“Our Girls: The Early Years” $15.00“Tina’s Memorial Video”$15.00“The Urban Elephant”$30.00(DVD ONLY)
(VHS)
(VHS)

(DVD)
(DVD)

(VHS)

(DVD)
(DVD ONLY)

Greeting Cards

Dulary Anniversary Gift Pack - $125.00
LIMITED EDITION - Includes a brand new Dulary
Anniversary DVD, a Women’s t-shirt (sizes S-XXL), Exclusive
Dulary color photo signed by Carol and Scott plus a
Sanctuary Decal—presented in a clear box with Dulary’s
bio. Only 140 sets created. Price includes domestic
shipping & handling.*

Order
early
for theholidays! Elephant Photo Holiday Cards
Pack of 12 w/envelopes $20.00

Inside message “Peace on Earth, Sanctuary To All”
Version 1
Bunny, Jenny& Shirley

Version 2
Shirley & Jenny

Version 3
Sissy & Tarra
Version 4
The Divas

Elephant Note Cards - $10.00

Blank inside; ideal for any occasion! Featuring
Illustrations of Queenie, Tarra & Dulary, Debbie
and Frieda; Mixed pack of 12 w/envelopes.

Shirley Anniversary Gift Pack $125.00

LIMITED EDITION -In honor of Shirley’s Ninth Anniversary!
Includes a brand new Shirley DVD, a Women’s t-shirt (sizes
S-XXL), Exclusive Shirley color photo signed by Carol andScott plus a Sanctuary Decal—presented in a clear box
with Shirley’s bio. Only 140 sets created. Price includes
domestic shipping & handling.**Please contact us for international orders.

14w w w. e l e p h a n t s . c o m / e s t o r eTote Bags
Sanctuary Logo
Tote Bags - $10.00

Say ‘no’ to paper or plastic andtote your groceries in style!
Choose beige with blue letteringor beige with green lettering.

Commemorative“Jenny” Tote Bag - $24.00 Beige with 4-color imprint.

onto these pages for shopping reference—
Elephant Sanctuary Merchandise Hang
this is the last mailing before the end of the year!
SISSY’S FREE T-SHIRT BONUS
Sanctuary Clothing

Tan T-Shirt with Green Logo - $15.00
Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) Youth q (L)Black T-Shirt with Yellow Logo - $15.00
Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL) Youth q (L)Commemorative T-Shirts - $10.00
L ogo, website address, elephant’s name and the date shecame to The Elephant Sanctuary
printed in green. (XXL Sizes are
priced $12 where noted)

In thanks for your support, if you place a merchandiseorder totaling $150 or more* (pre-tax, shipping &handling charges) through the order form here or via
the website, we will include a FREE Large SISSY T-shirt
with your order! The bonus gets evenbetter... if your $150+ order is placed
BEFORE November 15, 2008 we will
also include a FREE T-shirt with green
Sanctuary logo!** This is a limited timeoffer, available only while supplies last,
so don’t miss this unique opportunity toearn two free t-shirts. A big “Sanctuary
Much” from Sissy!
*Sorry, this offer does not include brick paver orders for the Education
Gallery. **Please specify first and second choice for this T-shirt size.

Tarra...... Adult q (L) Youth q (L)Barbara... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L)Jenny..... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Shirley... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Bunny.... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Sissy....... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Winkie... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L)Logo Sweatshirts - $20.00(Larger sizes $22 where noted) Stay warm thiswinter with these super-comfortable Sanctuary sweatshirts from Gildan Activewear in
Heavy Weight Blend 50/50.

Grey w/Blue Logo

Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL)
q (XXL) $22 q (XXXL) $22
Youth q (S) q (M)Delhi...... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Tange.... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Zula....... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Flora...... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12
Misty..... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L)Lota....... Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L)Dulary....Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L) Adult q (XXL) $12

Caravan To Freedom T-Shirt(4-color) - $15.00

Our ‘Divas’ commemorative shirt
Adult q (S) q (M) q (XL) q (XXL)
Youth q (S) q (M)NEW! Tarra & Bella T-Shirt - $25.00

Black w/Blue Logo

Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL)
q (XXL) $22 q (XXXL) $22
Youth q (S) q (M)Blue w/Gold Logo......Youth q(S) q(M)Purple w/Pink Logo...Youth q(S) q(M)Baseball Cap $15.00

Allproceeds
benefit
The Girls!

4-color; Adult & Youth sizes in lime and Toddler
sizes in royal blue.
Women’s Adult q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL) q (XXL)
Youth q (YXS) q (YS) q (YM) q (YL)
Toddler q (2T) q (3T) q (4T)

Comfortable, casual and adjustible
50/50 cotton/poly blend with Sanctuary logo embroidered on the front
and wesbite along the side. Twocolors to choose from.
q Denim Bill q Green Bill

Miscellaneous
Elephant Sanctuary Mouse Pads
q Unsigned $10.00
q Stamped w/Tarra’s signature $25.00

Tina Memorial T-Shirt(4-color) - $15.00

NEW!
Vehicle License Plate

Adult q (M) q (L) q (XL) Youth q (L)Long Sleeve
Red T-Shirt - $18.00

With Sanctuary logo, made of 100%pre-shrunk cotton. Perfect for thosechilly fall days. (XXL $20)
Adult

q (S) q (M) q (L) q (XL)q Adult (XXL) $20

w w w. e l e p h a n t s . c o m / e s t o r e

q $20.00

More!
Lots of other merchandise available. Please visit our Gift Shop online atwww.elephants.com/estore

Follow the links on our website
to order Elephant Sanctuary
US Postage Stamps and “EleChecks.” A portion of proceeds
benefits the Sanctuary!

NEW Checkdesigns!

15

Farewell
Higgins

To Our Members ~No Worries! The elephants’ magic works even in times ofrecession. Don’t worry about Our Girls, they continue toinspire people around the world to donate to their cause.
We want you to know that in this trying time even a small
amount that you give, when combined with other heartfelt contributions, keeps us going strong!

CFC Giving, 10470
The Sanctuary would like to take this opportunity toagain thank all our members who support us through the
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). If you are one of ourvalued CFC donors, we hope you will choose to renew yourpledge during the fall giving campaigns. (Please note ourcode is #10470.)
If you are a federal government employee and would liketo find out more about donating to the Sanctuary, visit
www.cfcna.org, or contact us at 931-796-6500 and we will
help put you in touch. Your support is a critical part ofour success.

Please visit our website:www.elephants.com
501 (C) (3) Nonprofit Organization

Our Sanctuary dog
Higgins passed away
peacefully on August
15. Only one day before,
he was racing down the driveway and growling his customary warning growls at juvenile Jessie. Higgins had grownthin and frail, and we marveled at his daily engagement inlife! Always one more potato, another run into the barn andan unwavering dedication to the monitoring of all foottraffic! Carol was with Higgins as he passed, stroking him
and giving him tummy rubs which he still relished. His
other human and animal friends worked and moved quietly
around him. Higgins was the first Sanctuary rescue dog, andhe is known to thousands from his appearance in The Urban
Elephant where Shirley and Jenny seem to sweep him out of
the barn! Rest in peace beautiful boy. We miss you.

To improve the lives of captive elephants,
please contact your legislators.

Sanctuary Much
To our Corporate Sponsors
TVA • Abaxis • EMMA Email Marketing
Manuel Zeitlin Architects
Green Mountain Gazebo • B&G Foods

To our Corporate Supporters
HAVE, Inc. • The Cloth Bag Company
Sharon Callahan, Anaflora
Larry Bernstein, Natural Holistic Health Care

Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Nashville, TN
Permit No. 3044

P.O. Box 393
Hohenwald, TN 38462
www.elephants.com