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Each time a new elephant arrives at the Sanctuary we post her progress on-line, in a diary. As she adjusts to her new life, entries in her diary as less and less frequent. For those of you who yearn to hear more, the Sanctuary staff will make a conscious effort to post a few tid-bits of information each week. This way you will be able to follow the on-going progress of all of the elephants. This diary will begin with the first day of the year with the most recent entry appearing at the top. Older entries will be archived. Delhi's progress continues to be documented on this page. Thanks for your continued interest and support. | |
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The African Ele-Diary documents Tange, Zula, and Flora's progress
When Lottie came back for a drink and found Billie standing beside the pond, she did a double take and then quickly moved in closer for a better look. Billie squeaked her signature mouse imitation and Lottie went off in the other direction to investigate the creek bottom. Lottie had been a little aloof from the other fabulous five for some time until recently when shifting behaviors, alliances, and loyalties found Lottie coming back into a position of influence, just where she needs to be. Lottie is calm and wise and the elephant that Minnie most respects. For several weeks Minnie has been pushing her weight around and Lottie was nowhere to be found. Prescribed remedies have had an influence, helping Minnie to make slow but steady progress, sort of two steps forwards one step back, but forward none the less. But finally it appears that Lottie has decided to do some mentoring with Minnie to help bring about harmony. It is working. Minnie has made a major breakthrough, a change of attitude of sorts. She is less harsh, less pushy with the other elephants and is showing a real soft side. For the past few days she has been observed playing with Debbie out in the pasture, gently interacting instead of being overtly pushy. Even Ronnie has been observed approaching Minnie throughout the day to engage in play and affection. Over at New Asia, Misty continues to be the clown around the newly-expanded facility. Her high energy and precocious personality put Winkie off at first and Bunny was not sure what to make of the whirling top, darting back and forth, chirping and screaming trumpets as she raced around. But it soon became clear that Misty would be the loving thread that would help bring all the girls back together. Her enthusiasm for life is helping them to recover from their recent losses. Shirley even seems to enjoy Misty's company and Misty would not have it any other way! Today CBC came out to the Sanctuary to do a story on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is encouraging to realize that the worldwide public is interested in this disorder which has recently been diagnosed in both captive and wild elephants. Misty is always excited regardless of the activity and today was no exception. The CBC crew caught Misty in action giving TIRE a thrill; a triple flip!
November 29, 2006 November 17 ,
2006
October 23, 2006 After a long season of warm weather, we had our first chilly night. For months the elephants have remained out in the habitat with no reason to come back to the barn since the weather was so nice. Hohenwald’s subtropical climate is one of the many reasons we chose this area for the Sanctuary. Mild temperatures ensure that the elephants spend the majority of their time outside. Tonight was the first night they spent inside since last winter. A few hours after sunset, they had all returned to the barn; Shirley and Bunny were the last two to come in for the night and Misty was waiting to make their acquaintance. Misty seems to enjoy meeting new elephants and gets along well with all of them—this meeting was no different. Although Misty wanted to run right up to Shirley and bounce around her in her Misty style, she restrained herself long enough for Shirley to check her out. Bunny quickly followed and then Delhi joined in. It had been months since Delhi, Bunny, and Shirley had seen each other so it was a mini reunion. Everyone was happy to see each other. Misty was immediately accepted into the family and the reunion was a happy one. The Fall colors are amazing as the divas continue to explore their new home. They are really settled in and enjoying each other's company.
After months of continual personal care and non-stop supplemental feedings, our dear Jenny has passed away. Over the past two years countless tests were conducted in an attempt to determine what was causing Jenny to lose weight. At first it appeared that perhaps she was experiencing difficulty shedding a set of teeth, causing her mouth to be sore. Veterinary prescribed treatment was given and Jenny's eating habits and food intake returned to normal but she continued to lose weight. Hand feedings, every two hours, were implemented to ensure that Jenny was eating the volume of food necessary to gain back the weight she had lost. Jenny savored the bounty of food provided as well as the added attention that came with this new regime; she was the center of attention as all of the other elephants gathered around to see what tidbits they could beg during Jenny's supplemental feedings. Needless to say, Tarra got more than a fair share of extra groceries resulting in the weight gain that we had hoped for Jenny. Even though Jenny's weight loss was very slow, the effect, after two years, was dramatic. The illness that eventually claimed Jenny's life continues to go undiagnosed. All known tests were conducted with inconclusive results. Jenny's occasional discomfort was addressed to ensure she remained pain free. Over the past three months Jenny grew weaker but she refused to curtail her endless exploration of the expanded habitat. With Mama Shirley at her side, Jenny led her family over every hill and through every pasture, savoring the sights, sounds, and smell of the world she so loved; this was Jenny's sanctuary and she immersed herself in it from the very day that she arrived until the moment of her death. Last week Jenny could no longer engage in her normal foraging and migrating activity. She chose a beautiful forested wash area to lie down and rest until her time came to leave this world. Shirley, the closest thing to a mother that Jenny had known, stood protectively at Jenny's side, day and night, helping her to rise when Jenny shifted her weight to lie on her other side. Flanked by Bunny and Tarra, they all seemed to know a serious change was occurring. On the day before her passing, Jenny engaged her sisters in the most profound chorus of rumbling as Carol and Scott stood witness and caressed Jenny, allowing the vibrations to penetrate their very souls. Everyone had accepted that Jenny was leaving and it was obvious that this group song was an important part of Jenny's dying process, a process that excluded no one and drew her loved ones to a most intimate space with her. The joy-filled singing lasted for three hours. With each exhalation came a most relaxed and familiar rumble which drew Jenny's family deeper and deeper into the ritual, with Bunny adding a crescendo trumpet and Tarra chirping her excitement. Still, Jenny did not pass but spent yet another blissful night with her family near by, caregivers included. On Tuesday morning Jenny's breathing became labored, but at no time did she exhibit the struggle one might expect from a dying individual. Jenny was relaxed in her process, and when she appeared to be a little uncomfortable her caregivers offered homeopathic remedies which allowed her to relax deeper into her process. Once her death was accepted as imminent, every effort was made to assist dear Jenny to move naturally and peacefully towards the other side, neither hurrying the process, nor impeding it. Jenny made her transition beautifully. In a blessing to herself and her family, her final days, hours and minutes were filled with joy and love, and her passing was in the arms of all who loved her so dearly. At 6:35PM CST, on October 17, with her family at her side, Jenny's breathing slowed and became shallow. She released a deep guttural sound from the base of her trunk, bringing Bunny and Tarra immediately to her side. Shirley had moved away, painfully sensing that Jenny's death was very near; her sorrow was heavy. To lose Jenny for a second time was more than Shirley could bear. For the next few minutes Jenny uttered the baritone rich vibration with each exhale; it was not anguish, nor pain; she was calm and relaxed and appeared to be gently announcing her departure from this world into the next. With the grace of a swan gliding effortlessly across the clear glass surface of a pristine lake, Jenny slipped from this world without the slightest twinge or pain; she was gone. Tarra and Bunny remained at Jenny's side throughout the night. Bunny remains even now, the following day, standing vigil, ever attentive to her dear sister, Jenny. In honor of Jenny we will play to our hearts content, sing unabashed to the open skies and live each day with a joy that Jenny taught us. We will not focus on sorrow, only thankfulness for the gift of having known Jenny. Liz and Frieda continue to expand their horizons; not in the big way the other divas have, but in their own time and in less dramatic increments. Today Liz and Frieda set out on an excursion that took them further than they had traveled before. We have no idea why today, why the back 60, and although it would be nice to know exactly why, that is less important as the fact that they feel confident and comfortable enough to explore. These two are quite silly. They joyfully live in their own little world, satisfied to explore a smaller area than their sisters. Their smiling faces say it all; they are happy. September 12 , 2006 The divas enjoyed the holiday …together!
Jenny naps in the tall vegetation while Bunny and Shirley grace the backdrop of Mother Nature at her best. Tarra has decided that she is quite comfortable around Misty. This is all the encouragement that Misty needed to pursue Tarra’s friendship. Today Misty was torn between the treats on the 4-wheeler and the excitement of a budding friendship.
Misty is one of the family now. She loves to be in the middle of all activity. She picks up her hay and brings it to wherever the care givers are, without leaving Delhi too far behind. She is curious and cooperative and always incredibly attentive to Delhi. She is a joy! This animated gif shows Liz settling in for an afternoon nap (captures from the Ele-Cam)
Word must have gotten out, because this morning Sissy and Winkie showed up for Spa Day; what a scene. Delhi tried to relax into her foot soaks and shower, but Sissy, Winkie, and Misty were all over the place, playing, checking out the 4-wheeler, and testing the water in Delhi’s foot soak buckets. Then Winkie decided she would like a bit of pampering herself. Two more foot soaks coming right up! Winkie stood in her buckets longer than Delhi, savoring the treatment and feeling quite special. As Spa Day was coming to a close, all foot soak buckets were emptied, a fresh supply of hay was provided for all the guests, and Tarra and Bela made their appearance. This is the first time Tarra had met Misty and it was delightful. Tarra chattered, as she is known to do, the entire time, being silly and acting shy. "Acting" is the correct description because Tarra simply is not shy about anything. She squeaked and chirped at Misty who did her own display of "excited but shy." This relationship will definitely prove to be most interesting, as both of these elephants believe that the only way life should be is fun and playful. For now they settled for a polite "hello" from a respectable distance.
Winkie and Sissy could hardly pull themselves away from Misty all day. Their normal routine of heading out into the habitat was derailed, and for good reason: they like Misty and Misty likes them. Winkie has experienced such growth since her arrival six years ago she hardly resembles her old self. Caregivers were curious how Winkie would react to Misty, because in the past she felt threatened by new elephants and would act aggressive towards them in response. We knew Misty could handle herself in such a situation; she is a wise girl with lots of experience with dysfunctional behavior by other elephants she has met. We were pleasantly surprised to see Winkie handle the situation with such grace and calm. Today was glorious with three of Delhi’s friends getting to know one another. Delhi stood in the middle grinning from ear to ear. Misty's trailer arrived at 9:00 a.m. Within an hour she had walked into the trailer and was ready to be transported to the other side of the Sanctuary property. After a short ten minute drive, Misty enthusiastically walked out of the trailer and headed over to her old friend Delhi. The reunion was beautiful to behold. Delhi stood perfectly still as Misty approached. Misty assumed a submissive posture which put Delhi at ease. Delhi proceeded to check out her old friend and Misty joined her in the affectionate touches. Their interactions were sweet and gentle; old friends reunited.
Later today Sissy and Winkie discovered the new arrival. Gregarious Misty did not hesitate to approach Sis and Winks, anxious to make their acquaintance. Sissy was a bit shy but Winkie showed no fear, a first for Winkie and new elephants. The two interacted affectionately for hours with Sissy finally joining in. Delhi, who refused to be left out of the fun, slowly walked up the hill to be with Misty, Sis and Winks. It was obvious that these four elephants would become an item and indeed they are, sharing meals and the cool night air. They spent the evening and next morning together.
August
17, 2006
The Wildlife at Feeding Time This afternoon the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency responded to the Sanctuary's request to allow Misty to join the original herd of Asian elephants in the expanded habitat. TWRA consulted with experts and responded favorably to our request. Misty will be allowed to move out of quarantine and into the 2200-acre habitat with Delhi her old friend, and Jenny, Tarra, Shirley, Bunny, Sissy and Winkie, her soon-to-be new friends. This is pretty much the constant scene at the quarantine facility; divas enjoying the pond with good friends!
Many EleCam viewers have asked about Minnie’s mounting behavior while in the pond. This behavior is Minnie’s way of displaying dominance towards other elephants. The elephants tolerate the behavior and Queenie even makes a game out of it. When she first arrived, Minnie was physically aggressive towards several of the elephants. These were elephants she had lived with for years in a circus environment. That dysfunctional lifestyle allowed for unresolved personal issues to build up between the herd members. Rehab at the Sanctuary includes the recovery from these unresolved issues. The recovery process which is facilitated by the space and freedom the Sanctuary offers is enhanced by homeopathic therapy. As each layer of emotional baggage melts away, the elephants are able to form sincere loving relationships with each other. One of the most profound changes we have seen to date is Minnie’s shift from overt aggression towards other herd members to the mounting behavior, a very passive form of dominance. We are very pleased with Minnie progress.
Liz and Frieda headed out into the back 60 early this morning. For the first time since their arrival they spent the day in the shade of the dense vegetation and trees along the creek bottom. It was heartwarming to see Liz and Frieda enjoying the vegetation, ample shade, and affection of their sisters.
June 20 , 2006
Liz and Frieda enjoyed a late afternoon walk-about. Their affection for each other is obvious
Just another diva day in paradise.
Liz and Frieda had a surprise waiting for the when they left the barn this morning. A 24-ton load of white sand had been dumped under one of their favorite trees. Frieda immediately went to check it out, and for two hours she and Lizzie had a blast playing in the sand. June 15 , 2006
June 14 , 2006 Sis and Winks continue to amaze their caregivers with their adventurous nature. They spend lots of time with the other elephants, but Jenny and Shirley move slower than Sis and Winks would like, so, after a few hours of engaging with their sisters, Sis and Winks set off on their own. Today they entered uncharted territory in the northern section of the habitat. This is an area that we only acquired recently, just as the fence line was coming through. This extra land provides more pasture and a huge farm pond perched on the top of the hill. When Sis and Winks found the treasure, Winkie dove right in. What a change from the tentative creature that Scott had to coax into the waist-high pond only six years ago. Winkie and Sissy are fearless adventurers, living each day to the fullest. Each day the divas settle in more and more; relaxation and socializing are favorite activities with these girls. During the cool mornings, the girls bathe and graze, and as the day grows warmer they retreat to the shaded creek bottom and forest where they forage and nap. Around 4:00 p.m. they begin to stir again and usually make a trek to the pond for a communal swim. The evenings find them grazing to their hearts' and stomachs' content.
The Divas are enjoying the warm weather, lush grass, and the company of their sisters. After a homeopathic remedy to soften their tendency towards dominating one another, these five are showing great progress in their individual and group rehabilitation. After functioning in a dysfunctional community for forty years, it comes as no surprise that this herd is unclear how to act with each other. They have a tendency to boss each other around; a behavior they learned from being dominated by people. But with sound management and a good example of group cooperation, they are learning how to act like healthy elephants. Today Sissy and Winkie made their way, all the way, to the lake. To their great surprise, Tarra and Bella were already there and had claimed the best camp site for the night—the top of the knoll overlooking the lake. Oh, the wonders that await these most deserving elephants; the habitat is vast and theirs to explore to their hearts' content! When Shirley, Bunny and Jenny finally realized the North gate which opens out towards the lake was open, they wasted no time. Bunny had difficulty keeping up with her handicapped sisters who scaled the hill like mountain goats. They savored the lush vegetation as they moved, and explored every inch of the place until they reached the top of the hill. Early afternoon is nap time for Jenny, so she plopped herself down on the cushion of grass and napped while Shirley stood over her in the most majestic posture. Bunny remained close by, munching away on the variety of vegetation that she has come to enjoy so much. After close to an hour, Jenny woke up, and with Shirley and Bunny at her side, continued on their trek towards the BIG WATER. Sissy picked up a friend on her way to the lake!
Tarra’s first night by the lake was spent not in isolation, but within feet of the resident beaver dam. We know a family of beaver conduct their lives just under the surface of the water and dam, and obviously, Tarra was curious about the aquatic residents. After some tracking, the place where Tarra spent the night was located; an elephant ground nest, with the vegetation smashed and an imprint of the side of Tarra’s body and face. It was interesting to see that she was within feet of the beavers' home. There were no elephant footprints on or immediately close to the dam, and no damage to the dam, so Tarra obviously respected their space. But her nest shows that she did sleep as close as possible without actually getting into the water with them. What a night they all must have had! Today was Tarra's turn to exit through the gate leading out into the expanded habitat. She wasted no time once she noticed the gate had been opened. As a matter of fact, she ran the entire way from the gate to the lake. Yes, Tarra, the inspiration for the Sanctuary, is also the first elephant to grace the lake. She and Bela ran up the trail, through the trees and out into the pasture that feeds up to the lake. Bela and Java immediately waded into the water as Tarra stood on the embankment and watched, chirping and gently reaching out toward her dogs. Then she wandered around the lake and found a lush field of tender bamboo shoots; she grazed madly. This natural vegetation is a preferred food of elephants.
The day we have all been waiting for. After too many weeks of unforeseen delays, the heavy metal gate dividing the Asian elephants from the remainder of their expanded habitat was opened. The ten year effort to create a spacious and diverse habitat for the earth's largest land mammal was finally realized.
Check it out! How many elephants do you see? Today all eight divas could once again be seen together, spread out in the pasture. Liz, Frieda and Billie are wandering further a-field, moving further and further away from the barn. What a joy to see. A major breakthrough; while Billie frolicked in the pond, Liz and Frieda made a surprise departure from their safe zone. With Liz in the lead, they ventured farther than ever before, leaving the area they have claimed as home for almost three months. They headed out to the pasture area known as the forty-left, and joined their grazing sisters. Their focus was on grazing and exploring the creek bottom. After four hours they were still immersed in their exploration with no indication that they would be returning to the barn any time soon. Billie has really begun to relax. She is very comfortable with Frieda and Liz and even Ronnie and Lottie when they stop by for a visit. Today she had a blast in the pond.
Spring has sprung and you have never seen so many rich hues of green. The girls are exploring more and grazing non-stop. Today Queenie, Lottie and Minnie went up the hill behind the barn and spent the entire day and well into the evening immersed in their newly-discovered wonderland. As the light spring rain fell, they savored tender grasses planted by the feeding and fertilizing activities of the elephants before them; Tarra, Bunny, Shirley and Jenny loved this area of the woods, creating a grassland in the woods in the wake of their travels. Billie spends hours in the pond; she loves it. Today she knew she was being photographed and was obviously pleased with herself. Although Billie is one of the divas that was labeled as highly dangerous, she has shown no signs of aggression since her arrival. Everyone is so happy for her. The Divas arrived two months ago. So much has transpired since their arrival that it feels like they have been here for years. One of our focuses is to put weight on Liz and Frieda. They were quite thin when they arrived, and helping them to gain weight is a priority. Over the past two months they have received extra feedings of grain and produce each day. Along with the constant supply of quality hay, it is no surprise that they have gained weight, but we were quit surprised at the amount of weight they have gained. No wonder they are so content; they have freedom, friends, and all the food they can eat! Liz has gained 500 lbs and Frieda has gained 800 lbs. We actually reweighed both elephants, thinking that someone had misread the scale but indeed they have both had a significant weight gain and are on the road to recovery. Just another day in paradise for Winkie, Shirley, Jenny (rising from her nap), and Bunny.
Liz, Frieda and Billie have the large pond all to themselves today and loving it!
Another fun filled adventure in Diva Land -- for the elephants at least. Around 5:30 p.m. the girls were aimlessly grazing through the pasture when Minnie spied a herd of white tail deer foraging their way out of the woods. This is the same family of deer that cross the elephants' path twice daily, same place, same time, and the elephants are quite familiar with their activity. Today Minnie decided that she would give chase, with her family in tow. The deer flitted out of Minnie's reach, backtracked, dodged her with Minnie in hot pursuit. The deer finally made a wide circle around her until they were able to continue on their evening trek across the pasture now owned by the Divas. Billie like the special attention she gets. Here she is following her caregivers out in the pasture for an afternoon treat.
An animated gif from the Ele-cam shows Minnie having a blast in the upper pond. The Divas are on an adventure, led by Minnie. (Another animated gif from the Ele-cam.) Liz began therapy for an infection in her foot. When she arrived, Liz had an infection between two toes on her right front foot. Although the area is very tender, we do not know the full extent of the infection. The infected area has been soaked to loosen the build up of dead skin. The overgrown skin was trimmed and now Liz participates in daily foot soaks to kill the infection and remedy the problem. Liz is cooperative and smart -- she quickly learned to place her foot into the foot soak bucket for 10 minutes. Over the next few days the time will be increased up to 20 minutes. Over the past 11 years, we have seen remarkable success with apple cider vinegar foot soaks, so we are confident that Liz will benefit from this therapy. Soon, radiographs of Liz's toes will be taken to etablish a baseline for future reference, a practice that we do with any elephant with foot or toe problems. Lottie bellowed and the rest of the herd scrambled to her call. This afternoon, unnoticed by the other members of the herd, Lottie purposefully wandered off to climb the hill behind the barn. She walked nearly a mile from her family before bellowing the signal for them to join her. Debbie, Ronnie, Queenie and Minnie broke into a full run in response to Lottie's call, whose bellowing echoed down the valley, reminiscent of Jenny's vocalization when she wants Shirley to join her. After a bit of organized confusion, the herd was reunited and Lottie led them on an excursion through uncharted territory -- at least uncharted by them. Today's adventure took them down Barbie Lane, a favorite location of not only Barbara, but Bunny, Jenny, Shirley and Tarra. After sampling sprouting vegetation and tender saplings, Lottie quietly turned and headed back down the lane in the direction from which she had come. Queenie hung out with Liz, Frieda and Billie at the bottom of the hill until the others returned. The arthritis in Queenie's shoulders prevents her from climbing steep hills, for the time being. She is receiving therapy for her condition and hopefully soon she will be able to scale the hills with the others. Before our X-Circus Divas arrived, we were warned repeatedly about Billie and Frieda's aggression towards people and Debbie's aggression towards Frieda. Thank goodness the elephants feel safe enough to shed their old defenses and mingle peacefully with each other and with their new caregivers. How does a Queenie lie down? Gently!
Sunshine and March rains equal rapidly growing, succulent pasture grasses.
Today the girls enjoyed nature at her wildest… a torrential downpour found Jenny and Shirley soaking up the rain and the mud. What fun!
Our X-Circus Divas have discovered the benefits of nature's spa; mud baths, hours spent relaxing amongst friends and the natural exfoliation as a result of a day spent soaking up a warm spring rain...heaven. We could write volumes about how these elephants have instantaneously adapted to their new life, but one picture -- or a series of them -- is worth a thousand words.
Minnie found the perfect toy for her playful appetite...a tractor tire! As these screen captures show, Minnie had a blast squishing the tire, even sitting on it to try and flatten it out. The entire famly joins in to shelter Queenie as she sleeps.
The fabulous five are once again enjoying each other's company; gently sharing trunk touches, squeaks and napping side by side. Today Debbie was observed standing over Ronnie as she napped in the pasture with Queenie, Minnie and Lottie grazing nearby. There has been a marked change in their behavior since their arrival. Initially they moved about the property quickly, insatiably, checking out every rock, fallen branch and wooded seclusion. It was as if they could not get enough, fast enough, as if they thought it would not last. Their movement was comically double time to that of our other elephants who move unhurried through the habitat. The new girls showed a thirst for new adventure and basked in their freedom, at times engaging in such abandoned rough play that they actually caused superficial wounds when they plowed fallen trees underwater or dragged branches across their face and legs. This hyperactivity was a venting, a release, and a necessary step in their process of recovery.
Liz, Frieda and Billie have become quite an item. They spend all of their time together and even share a section of the barn at night. Although originally Billie mixed with the fabulous five, Liz and Frieda preferred to stay a little to themselves. Who could blame them; thin and physically compromised, they felt intimidated when the big girls were rough-housing. After a few days Billie left the bigger herd and joined Liz and Frieda. At first she was only with them in the pasture during the day but separated at night, but is was soon quite clear that Billie did not intimidate Liz and Frieda and that they enjoyed her company. So now, day and night, inside or out, these three are together. Some days Billie hikes up the hill behind the barn to browse in the pines and hardwoods and other days she can be found grazing side by side with Liz and Frieda. They share a contagious peacefulness. Happy 11th anniversary to Tarra!
Minnie and her sisters discovered the upper pond and of course Minnie had to check it out. The small, self-inflatable ball was no contest for Minnie; she finally flattened it and used it as a hat!
Many ele-fans e-mailed asking about the shoving match they saw today on the EleCam while the new girls were romping in the pond. We don't know what triggered it, but Lottie and Minnie started pushing Debbie around. They had a shoving match with no clear winner and broke it up when they saw that dinner was being served. The four-wheeler, "meals on wheels", is a great distraction. Some dysfunctional behavior will take time to change! Late this afternoon, the fabulous 5 were in the pond having a grand-old-time. Their energy and excited level increased until it seemed to become more like frenzy. In a flash of a moment their interactions switched from playful to agitated. Minnie and Lottie started crowding their good friend Debbie in a way that appeared to be more than playful. Debbie made an effort to exist the pond and Minnie cut her off by maneuvering in front of her and using her head as a blockade. Lottie assisted Minnie in her effort to contain Debbie while Queenie and Ronnie moved out of the pond and out of the way. Not a sound was uttered; not a squeak, grunt, trumpet or moan, it was deafeningly silent, with the exception of splashing as massive legs struggled to get a foot hold in the muddy pond. Debbie continued to try and exit the pond and finally succeeded but Minnie and Lottie continued to try and prevent Debbie from leaving.
So comfortable, so relaxed, life is good. The new girls have settled in to their new life quite effortlessly. Minnie, Lottie, Queenie, Ronnie and Debbie are the active five you see on the EleCam continually. The camera operator can hardly keep up with their constant movement. Inquisitive and playful, a seriously bonded herd, these elephants are living each day to the fullest.
The founding herd—Tarra, Jenny, Shirley, Bunny, Sissy, Winkie and Delhi—are doing great. They have made a smooth transition in their new home. Delhi has a special sand path from the barn out to the pasture to protect her sensitive feet; Jenny and Shirley find the open pasture napping equal to that of their original sanctuary digs. They have not discovered the lake yet…but just wait until they do.
Wonder what the new girls are up to? Well when they are not grazing, napping, playing, browsing, stalking whitetail deer, climbing hills and exploring creek beds, they are swimming!
Happy 32nd Birthday TARRA, the inspiration for the Sanctuary!
One of the most unusual sights in Hohenwald, besides elephants, is snow. Jenny enjoys the beauty while it lasts, which is not long; hours at the most.
The EleCam captured a day in the life of an ex-circus elephant living at the Sanctuary.
After an uneventful trip, Billie and Frieda arrived at the Sanctuary at 12:00 p.m. CST and off-loaded from the trailer effortlessly. They joined their sisters within minutes of their arrival. These are the last of the eight Hawthorn elephants contracted to move to the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary hopes that Gypsy, the lone female that remains at the Hawthorn facility will be allowed to join her family in the near future. Today is a day of rejoicing; all eight Hawthorn elephants have arrived safely. After months of preparation and weeks of anxiety, this day has finally arrived. We had little do to with the exact date that all the girls would be here -- delays seemed to be the only constant. But at the end of the day, when everyone heaved a heavy sigh of relief someone said, "Do you realize this is Lota's anniversary, the one year anniversary of her death?" With all of our focus on the rescue of her sisters, the fact that it had been one year to the day that Lota had passed had escaped us. We find it ironic and deeply touching that this special day would be marked by Lota's departure from the deprived life she lived and the freedom she was responsible for securing for all of her sisters. Lota's life and suffering was the catalyst for the rescue of the herd of elephant that she shared a decade with; she gave them the greatest gift possible, freedom. Billie and Frieda loaded into the trailer, voluntarily, in less than 30 minutes. Unfortunately, a paperwork oversight delayed their departure by a few hours. At 6:00 p.m., after a stand-off by the Hawthorn Corporation, Debbie and Ronnie were finally allowed to be the next two elephants to depart for Tennessee. Although the loading was delayed by several hours, Debbie and Ronnie are still scheduled to arrive at the Sanctuary tomorrow at 12:00 noon, CST. Meanwhile -- on this gloriously sunny day, the new arrivals set out on an adventure up the hill behind their barn towards the southern section of their 200-acre habitat. Climbing is no challenge to these girls. The vegetation and unexplored area was the attraction. A Tribute to Winkie from a Friend The new girls have wasted no time exploring their surroundings and utilizing the many benefits of sanctuary life. Contrary to the claims of an ill-informed few, elephants do not spend their time standing at the fence waiting for hand outs; they are too busy exploring their world, but only if it is large and diverse enough to hold the attention of such an intelligent animal. The key to a healthy life and natural behavior for captive elephants is SPACE. It seems so simplistic and it is. These huge gregarious creatures thrive on space and family and wither from the lack of it. If we are able to give our elephants only one thing, then the choice would be space, because with it the benefits abound. Space enables elephants to make intuitive decisions regarding their activities. It allows for distancing from other elephants when they may feel insecure, stimulates their adventurous/curious nature and satisfies their need to immerse themselves in nature. With this one single option, SPACE, elephants can recovery from captivity-induced disease and rediscover themselves, even remake themselves as has been the case with so many of our rescued residents. The recently rescued Hawthorn elephants, our X-Circus Divas, are proof positive that SPACE has a profound impact on a captive elephant’s recovery and wellbeing. Minnie, Lottie, and Queenie have an adventure. Liz and Queenie arrived today without incident. Both their loading and unloading was trouble free. Liz was fearless as she explored the barn and later the habitat. Queenie was overjoyed when she saw that her dear friends Lottie and Minnie were there to greet her. Minnie and Lottie are comfortable with their new routine; breakfast, a bath and then a full day of freedom to decide what they want to do and when. First thing this morning they headed out into Jenny’s wash to scratch on trees and throw dirt onto their backs. They then headed out to the pasture looking for new adventures—little did they know that two of their sisters were in-route and schedule to arrive this day at noon. A reunion was sure to be the event of the day. When Queenie and Liz arrived, everything was ready for them. Queenie had loaded facing Liz so she would need to back out of the trailer, which proved to be no problem at all. Slowly, she placed each foot carefully on the ramp, making sure she was on a solid surface. Several tentative steps later and she was standing in her new barn watching Liz as she gracefully and without hesitation exited the trailer moments later. Liz was a surprise: thin, gaunt but alert and calm. She headed over to the food that had been placed out on the floor and proceeded to demonstrate a healthy appetite. In the meantime Queenie discovered the hanging tire, a favorite toy of all the elephants. This toy is suspended by a padded chain from a trolley that slides back and forth along a metal track overhead. Queenie grabbed the tire and flung it sideways sending it screaming along the beam and crashing with a bang at the end of the track. The noise is deafening but the elephants enjoy it immensely. Slide Show (Caravan to Freedom Girls) At 4:00 p.m. Queenie and Liz, the second set of Hawthorn elephants destined for the Sanctuary, were loaded into the Sanctuary's trailer for their trip to Tennessee. The loading was uneventful; both elephants loaded cooperatively. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow around 12:00 noon, CST. Lottie and Minnie have settled right in. They are eating well, drinking from the automatic waterer and exploring their new home with abandonment. Minnie spent hours playing with her new barn toys. All through the night and into the early hours of the morning the banging and clanging of many hanging toys could be heard echoing through the barn and down the pasture valley. After their baths, Minnie and Lottie were ready to head out and explore. They spent only a few minutes in Jenny’s wash scratching on trees and then headed out to the pasture. Lottie appears to be the leader, which is surprising since Minnie is the larger of the two. Lottie leads and Minnie follows. A caregiver went into the habitat to introduce the new girls to the 4-wheeler—they loved it. This is when a shift was noticed; Minnie took the lead, running along side the 4-wheeler, spinning around in circles and trumpeting loudly. Lottie followed, chirping and rumbling wildly. When they got to the creek crossing, both Lottie and Minnie crossed without hesitation and went up the pasture on the South side of the property. They stopped to survey the landscape and engage in gentle trunk touches and caresses, talking to each other in low rumbles and squeaks. After a few minutes, Lottie again in the lead, they set out for the woods. Minnie threw herself into the adventure—pushing on trees, cracking branches and digging up the soft forest floor. She plopped herself down on the padded ground and wallowed around in sheer joy. Lottie joined her, oblivious to anything but their freedom. For the remainder of the day they explored, sampled the wild vegetation, and sent trumpets echoing up the valley. When the sun began to set they, without prompting, returned to the barn for a well-deserved banquet of hay, grain and produce, apparently ready to settle in for the night. Slide Show (Caravan to Freedom Girls) The pine forests provide not only shelter but a warmer environment than the hardwood forest. It is documented that the temperature in a pine forest is 10 degrees warmer than an open area or other forests. So the girls, in their great wisdom, can be found in the pines a lot these days. Slide Show (Founding Herd) Lottie and Minnie arrived at the Sanctuary at 12:00 noon. Their trip was uneventful; they remained calm throughout the trip. Lottie had loaded into the trailer first, so she would be second to unload. Minnie, on the other hand, had backed into the trailer, which gave her a full view of everything unfolding as preparations were being made for her unloading. She watched curiously. When the final bar was removed, Minnie effortlessly stepped down from the trailer into the barn. She immediately found the hanging toy and swung it around, then turned to face Lottie who was still in the trailer. Scott removed the bars in front of Lottie and she calmly stepped out of the trailer. The two elephants exchanged affectionate touches and soft whispers with their heads held close together. Without a bit of apprehension, both Lottie and Minnie entered the restraint chute and stood on the scale. Lottie went in first, weighing 8,550, and then "tanker Minnie", weighing a whopping 11,130 pounds. Minnie is our new heavyweight Sanctuary resident, even bigger than Shirley and Misty. Lottie proceeded to the exit door, stuck her head through the rubber flaps, momentarily stopping, and then walked right outside. It was amazing to see her and Minnie exit the barn and enter the habitat in such a graceful, confident manner, exploring every inch of their new surroundings as they went. The remainder of their day was filled with exploration and the uninvited intrusion of playful dogs as they ran past, engaged in their own adventure, completely oblivious of the newcomers.
Slide Show (Caravan to Freedom Girls) The relocation of our founding herd was effortless and all of the girls are settling in nicely to their new, expanded habitat. Shirley, at 60+ years, still knows how to entertain herself and find fun in the natural gifts that Sanctuary life provides. Slide Show (Founding Herd) At 4:00 p.m. two of the Hawthorn elephants, Minnie and Lottie, were loaded into the Sanctuary's trailer for their trip to Tennessee. The loading was uneventful as would be expected from seasoned circus performers. They are scheduled to arrive tomorrow around 12:00 noon, CST. Yesterday Sissy moved to the new barn; she brought along her best friends Winkie and "tire". She has come a long way from the shy, frightened elephant that arrived six years ago.
January 25, 2006 The migration of our resident elephants began today. We knew Tarra would be anxious to get to the new barn, but Bunny surprised us by moving in that direction as soon as she left the barn in the morning. Without hesitation, she made her way down the mile long valley with Tarra in the lead and after a short pause to sample the vegetation, climbed the hill leading to the new barn. Tarra was so excited, chirping and talking to Bunny the entire way.
The breakthroughs are never ending. Today was a huge day for Winkie. It took several years before Winkie would sleep in the barn and even longer before she would lie down outside at night. BUT today was the first time that Winkie was observed lying down outside, in broad daylight. This may seem like a small thing, but truly a breakthrough for Winkie, a sign that she continues to grow more and more comfortable in her environment, comfortable enough to assume the most vulnerable position possible. Animated gif showing Winkie lying down (this will take a few seconds to load) |
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