Three elephants at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. (Photo courtesy of The Elephant Sanctuary).
Three elephants at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. (Photo courtesy of The Elephant Sanctuary).

Sanctuary Benefits

The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is a 20-year-old 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to take in sick, needy, and elderly elephants. They are not open to the public, but they are fully licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. They are certified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

 

The Elephant Sanctuary provides round the clock care, access to a warm climate and 2,700 acres of hills, trees, meadows, and ponds. They have taken in 24 elephants, all of whom were in zoos or circuses.

 

For many years the community has asked the mayor and city council to retire Ruth and Emily. While we would love to see both elephants get to go, concerns for Ruth's health and safety make it critical that she retire now.

 

Here's a comparison between Buttonwood Park Zoo and The Elephant Sanctuary.