Villagers Donate to Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

In the small town of Hohenwald, TN exists a little piece of heaven for some lucky elephants.

 

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee:

– provides captive elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being

– educates the public of the complex needs of elephants in captivity and the crisis facing elephants in the wild.

The elephants’ habitats are closed to the public.

 

The Sanctuary is currently home to 11 elephants retired from zoos and circuses, many of whom suffer long-term health and behavioral issues common to elephants that have spent their lives in captivity. The Sanctuary employs a fully integrated team of veterinarians and caregivers who provide high-quality care by using positive reinforcement and protected contact to safely meet the needs of each elephant.

The Sanctuary is licensed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), and certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

 

For the second year in a row, Tellico Village resident Lynda Parker collected and delivered discarded Christmas trees to the sanctuary. Parker is the president of the Tellico Village Naturalist Club and has been an animal lover her entire life. When she heard of the sanctuary’s need for greenery, she enlisted a group of her friends to collect trees from the community. Trees provide food for the elephants as well as play and entertainment. When it’s all said and done, a Christmas tree may whittle down to a mere stick. Parker is already looking forward to next year. The sanctuary also is in need of donations to care for the animals throughout the entire year.

 

Tellico Village is located in Loudon, Tennessee. It is known for its generous volunteers and giving spirit. There are over 200 clubs and organizations to get involved with and make new friends. Villagers are known to say “ Tell ‘em I retired from work, but not from doing good works.”