Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee:

A haven for retired jumbos

We are slowly but surely pushing the largest animal that walks the Earth into extinction. The majestic elephants are threatened in many ways today with some being hunted for their body parts, especially their tusks, and others being gunned down or maimed as a result of the on going human-elephant conflict.There are many others that are killed and injured after falling into swamps, mud pits,wells and tanks. Then there are also some animals that end up dead or sustain injuries after being caught in animal traps set by poachers or hit by trains and high speeding vehicles.

The many forms of life threatening challenges the elephants in the wild have to face somehow seem to pale when compared to the various forms of cruelty some domesticated elephants are being subject to,not only by heartless mahouts who goad them to carry out strenuous work,but also by animal trainers, especially in circuses. Do you know that these gigantic animals are forced to perform various acts such as head stands and balancing on small stools and objects which can be injurious to them?

The animals are made to put a lot of strain on their spines and necks when they are forced to learn these circus acts. Most often the animals are trained under harsh conditions and severely punished when they do not perform.

The electronic and print media are inundated with reports of dying or dead pachyderms in various parts of the world. While some of the elephants are fortunate to be rescued, many are not. Day-by-day the number of elephants is decreasing not only in Sri Lanka but also in India, Africa and other parts of the world.

The haul of 400 African elephant tusks that were being smuggled from Kenya via Sri Lanka detected by the Sri Lanka Customs recently is ample evidence that despite stringent laws,elephants continue to be killed in large numbers. At least 200 elephants would have been killed to get that huge number of ivory tusks estimated to be worth millions of rupees.

With the elephant,both the Asian and African being classified as a threatened species what protective measures are we taking to save them and prevent their extinction? Many nature lovers ,environmentalists and wildlife organizations around the world are fighting a hard battle to save the elephant, but their valiant efforts are like a drop in the ocean against the growing onslaught the majestic animals are facing today from heartless humans.

The plight of the majestic elephant is indeed pathetic going by all the negative reports concerning the animals' struggle for survival. .However, just as much as any inhuman act that maims or kills an elephant or any animal for that matter touches us deeply, any act that provides some form of relief or protection to these innocent animals generally elates us.

Some of the pictures featured on page 10 are bound to stir up angry emotions at the manner in which a few of these unfortunate mammals are being treated in the name of entertainment. However, the fact that there are many people who are genuinely concerned about them and have taken measures to provide such animals with love, care and protection will make you feel less angry about the pathetic plight of the gentle giants of the wild.

Today we feature a special place set up for elephants in the USA which is somewhat different to the elephant sanctuaries in Sri Lanka such as the Eth Athru Sevana and Pinnawela Elephant Orphnage.

Elephants we know are huge animals weighing about three tons. Obviously they need to eat plenty;around 200 pounds of food per day.

Sustaining these massive animals is an enormous (and expensive) task. So, what happens to circus and zoo elephants when they grow old and can no longer earn their keep by entertaining audiences? They move to a retirement home in Tennessee.

Here's how two elephant trainers created a safe haven for these animal elders to enjoy their golden years.

Located roughly 100 miles outside Nashville, Tennessee in the small town of Howenwald is the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Elephant trainers Carol Buckley and Scott Blais had selected the small Tennessee town of Howenwald as its climate is similar to the indigenous climate both African and Asian elephants are used to .

The sanctuary which was initially set up on 112 acres of land has now grown to 2,700 acres. It is divided into three areas, with areas specifically created to simulate the home terrain of African and Asian elephants. It currently features a 25 acre pond, a variety of terrain, and several heated barns to house the elephants on cold nights.It had started with only just one elephant in 1995. The first elephant, a 22-year old cow elephant named Tarra, had spent her life working in film and television, and even learned to roller skate along the way.

Today 18 elephants roam the 2,700-acre sanctuary with several caregivers tending the creatures. However, the elephants are not always hasseld by humans. The owners adopt a hands off approach for the most part, and the elephants are left to their own devices as a part of the sanctuary's passive management policy. This allows the elephants to form a herd as they would in the wild. Don't you think it is a magnanimous gesture to provide these tired,old elephants a safe place to spend their final years ?The elephants in the sanctuary are always being monitored.

The caregivers who maintain the barns also make sure that elephants each elephant leaves the barn during the day and roams the sanctuary.

The elephants often walk 3 to 15 miles throughout the terrain over the course of the day. Some of the elephants refrain from sleeping in a barn at night, choosing to stay on the sanctuary 24 hours a day.

Asian elephants form herds based on gender, with a female herd containing several generations of elephants. Young males stay with the female herd until they are 6-10 years of age.

Once they begin to exhibit breeding behaviour, males are pushed out of the female herd. As in the wild, male and female elephants rarely live together the same rule is observed in the sanctuary too. So,only males in dire health situations are accepted on the reserve. The sanctuary is basically an all female territory.

The sanctuary's facilities can currently care for up to 25 elephants comfortably, but the available 2,700 acres is enough area for 100 elephants to roam. The caregivers hope to expand the infrastructure over time, particularly the barns, to provide care for more elephants.

Their goal is to provide a home for a hundred elephants . The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, along with other wildlife sanctuaries throughout the world are providing wonderful homes for these animals in their last years of life.

As the prime objective of setting up the sanctuary was to provide the elephants, many of whom have been leading hard lives, a safe and peaceful natural habitat to live in , the sanctuary is not open to the public.

Watching elephants perform various acts at a circus or zoo may thrill most of you but are you aware that the animals, especially at circuses are trained under very harsh conditions?There are certain tricks animals can do and cannot do so it is dangerous to force domesticated animals, especially huge animals such as elephants to do head stands and other acts that put a severe strain on their spines and necks.

There is always a possibility that the animals could get injured, should something go wrong. So, do we actually need to take such risks with helpless animals in the name of entertainment? They have no voice to protest and sue those who are responsible even if they get injured and have to live with severe pain for the rest of their lives. Animals also have rights . Just because they are dumb it does not give us the right to treat them in a cruel manner.

All animals should be allowed to live their normal lives and not be forced to do things that can cause them any type of discomfort or harm.

The pictures here tell the story...

Fast facts

*The Elephant Sanctuary ,USA' s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants is a non-profit organization.Funding for all of these projects come from public contributions, membership support and in-kind donations.

*The sanctuary is designed specifically for old, sick or needy elephants who have been retired from zoos and circuses.Here the residents are not required to perform or entertain for the public; instead, they are encouraged to live like elephants.

*It provides three separate and protected, natural-habitat environments for both Asian and African elephants.

*Since its inception, the sanctuary's outreach programme has taught thousands of school children across USA a respect for wildlife while learning about the crisis facing Asian and African elephants, both in captivity and in the wild.

The mission...

In the wild, elephants are migratory, walking 30 to 50 miles each day, and form intricate family structures. They grieve for their dead in a more-than instinctive way. They show humour and express compassion for one another with intense interactions.

The reality of their lives in captivity is that many are in chains up to 18 hours a day.

They are enclosed in steel pens-often alone-broken and controlled by fear and intimidation.

The mission of the sanctuary is to give elephants the freedom they deserve.