
The Elephant Sanctuary exists for two reasons: to provide a haven for old, sick or needy elephants in a setting of green pastures, old-growth forests, spring-fed ponds and a heated barn for cold winter nights; and to provide education about the crisis facing these social, complex, exceedingly intelligent animals.
Meet some of their members - Born in 1982, Flora was orphaned at two years old when her family was killed in a culling in Zimbabwe Africa. Prior to coming to The Elephant Sanctuary, her entire captive life had been spent traveling and performing with circuses. Flora is a beautiful elephant weighing 10,000 pounds of pure muscle.
Shirley was born in Sumatra in 1948. She was captured in 1953 and performed in circus for 30 years. After that, she lived at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo for another twenty-three years before retiring to The Elephant Sanctuary. She stands nearly 9 feet tall and weighs 9200 pounds. Her back right leg was broken 30 years ago when she was attacked by a fellow circus elephant. She is missing a large section of her right ear as result of a fire, which not only injured her ear but also left several scars on her back, side, and feet.
Also, this wonderful Santuary provides a safe, healty place for these wonderful creatures to live. See them live by clicking on the utube address below.
http://www.youtube.com/elephantsanctuarytn
Doing a school paper on elephants and want to know more? Visit http://www.elephants.com/faq.php
Click on their website to see how you can help http://www.elephants.com/aboutSanctuary.php
Help is not only a monetary donation, they sell gifts, they have wish lists, etc. and - don't support circus' and other events that use captured animals. Support circus' such as cirquedusolei who do not use animals in their performances.
Do a school project: collect enough money to feed an elephant, do posters on telling people about elephants and the challanges they face - Todd Thorn makes a diffenence in his adventures - so can you!
The best present you can give ? Send this to someone else - and spread the word to help these wonderful animals.