The Elephant Sanctuary, Hohenwald, Tennessee
I was privileged to visit the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee several years ago to teach their staff Reiki. I was deeply touched by their dedication to making the lives of the elephants as natural and rewarding as possible and impressed by the extraordinary, state-of-the-art resources they’ve developed for the elephants at the sanctuary.
The Elephant Sanctuary, founded in 1995, is the nation’s single natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 gorgeous acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee – 85 miles southwest of Nashville, in a beautiful natural valley with a climate very similar to that of the Asian elephants’ natural habitat. The Elephant Sanctuary exists 1) to provide a haven for old, sick, or needy elephants in a setting of green pastures, old-growth forests, spring-fed ponds, and beautiful, state-of-the-art, heated barns for cold winter nights, and 2) to provide education about the crisis facing these social, sensitive, passionately intense, playful, complex, exceedingly intelligent, and endangered creatures. At the sanctuary the elephants live natural lives largely of their own choosing in idyllic surroundings. Read the moving stories of the elephants’ lives and learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary at www.elephants.com. Of particular interest: On their web site the sanctuary provides live-feed, 24 hour video coverage of the elephants through their “elecam” cameras placed in many locations around the sanctuary.
The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Northern California
The PAWS Sanctuary is a place where abandoned or abused performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and contentment. Founded by Hollywood animal trainer and author, Pat Derby, and partner, Ed Stewart, PAWS maintains 3 sanctuaries for captive wildlife — 30 acres in Galt, California, and 100 acres in Herald, California, and the 1st Phase I of “Ark 2000”, 2300 acres of beautiful natural habitat in San Andreas, CA. They provide homes for many “exotic” animals, including elephants. Among their greatest concerns are the treatment of animals in traveling shows, animal acts, television and movies, as well as the problem of captive breeding, inadequate standards for captive wildlife and the exotic animal trade. Although captivity is never a substitute for the wild, “Ark 2000” is a large and beautiful home for victims of the captive wildlife industry.
The one hundred plus acres set aside for elephants is covered in native California grasses, shrubs and huge oak trees, which provide year around grazing and browse for the elephants. Located in the Sierra foothills, the mild climate, natural vegetation and large lakes are similar to the natural habitats of wild elephants and provide opportunities for the elephants to engage in natural behaviors. Two 20,000 square foot barns are stocked with all the equipment necessary to provide the best husbandry and medical care, including an indoor Jacuzzi pool especially designed for elephants with arthritis and joint disease. Learn more about PAWS at www.pawsweb.org.
