Note: Since the beginning, it seems many of the circumstances and decisions surrounding the Hawthorn herd have changed nearly as often as the weather, so please check back in the event we have had to revise some of these answers based on new information or requirements.

Updated 12/31/05

Q: What caused the USDA to reclassify the health status of the Hawthorn herd?

A: The USDA has deviated from their TB MANAGEMENT GROUPS guidelines which state that a Group C elephant is considered to be a Group B elephant following 12 months of separation from any TB positive elephant, and negative trunk wash results. Although the Hawthorn elephants have met this criterion the USDA views this herd as unique and has designated them Group C until further testing is conducted. (click to read the USDA TB MANAGEMENT GROUPS publication)

Q. Does this new health status mean they have all become TB positive and very sick like Lota and Misty?

A: No, it simply means that the USDA does not feel that sufficent testing has been completed to determine that the elephants are free of TB.

Q: Will all the Hawthorns be arriving at the same time?

A: The Hawthorn elehants will be transported two at a time in the Sanctuary's climate controlled, chain-free trailer.

Q: Will you broadcast their arrivals live on the website Ele-Cam?

A: YES

Q: When the Hawthorn girls arrive, will they be given immediate access to their full 200 acre habitat right away?

A: YES

Q: So Ronnie and Gypsie are not left behind, why not also rescue and help treat Nicholas (the male elephant in the Hawthorn Herd) on a temporary basis until you could find another suitable home for him?

A: We can not stress enough how inappropriate it would be to have Nic join the other elephants. It is our understanding that Nic is housed separate from all but three of the females identified as dangerous in his own stall. Breeding age male elephants do not live with female elephants in a natural environment. Nic is at the age when the females would reject him and drive him from the herd. Forcing Nic to live in proximity to the females could have dire consequences on the health and emotional wellbeing of our elephants. The solution is not to bring Nic here and compromise all the other elephants; the solution is to move Nic to a facility equipped to properly care for male elephants.

Q: It was originally announced the Endangered Ark Foundation in Oklahoma (a subsidiary of the Carson & Barnes circus) was going to receive 4 of the Hawthorn elephants to use for breeding. What happened?

A: It is our understanding that following the results received from a recent blood test, the State of Oklahoma refused to issue an import permit for three of the four elephants slated to go to the Ark Foundation. According to information provided by the Oklahoma State veterinarian, a permit to import Joy will be issued after an inspection of the Ark Foundation facilities is completed.

Q: I thought the large, new Asian barn was going to be for the Hawthorn herd. Why did you decide to place the Hawthorns in the old barn and move the founding Asian herd to the new barn and area with the lake?

A: As you may recall, originally it was our intention to raise the money to build two barns for the Hawthorn elephants. A two-barn system is required in order to provide a separate quarantine facility, which is extremely important in the monitoring and treatment of TB. When we realized we would not be able to raise the funds necessary for two new barns we searched for an alternative to not taking the Hawthorn elephants at all. That alternative was to utilize the existing two-barn Asian facility and move the resident elephants to the single new barn. As it turns out, with the new health status of the Hawthorn elephants, this decision was the right one.

Q: Sissy and Winkie sure seem to love swimming in their favorite pond. Do you anticipate they (or any of the others) may be reluctant to relocate to their new habitat?

A: The elephants love the ponds, creek, streams, pastures and forests. They are not necessarily attached to any particular location as much as they thrive on nature. Their move will simply give them more of the same things they have grown to love over the years.

Q: Is the new Asian barn finished now? If so, when do you plan to give its new occupants their first grand tour?

A: The New barn, fencing and elephant corral are completed and have passed TWRA inspection. We have a small section of hot wire to erect which we cannot complete until our resident herd migrates over to the new barn. This process has been delayed as Scott Blais has been at the Hawthorn barn in Illinois helping to care for Sue.

Q: We know Delhi has made friends and has bonded with Shirley, Jenny, etc. these past 2 years and seems very content, but do you think she might rather be with her Hawthorn family when they arrive?

A: If Delhi decides she wants to be with her Hawthorn famly she will definitely be allowed that choice.

Q: Will Misty get to live and play with her Hawthorn sisters, or will you have to continue to keep her separated from them for quarantine reasons?

A: We do not know what USDA will allow yet.

Q: Will the new Asian barn and habitat, including the lake, have Ele-cams too?

A: Yes, but not right away. Once we raise the funds for the satellite towers and cameras the Ele-Cam system will sport 20 new cameras. We hope that a company that manufactures the required equipment will choose to sponsor this mammoth project.

Q: Is there a possibility, once the Hawthorn herd is healthy again, that all of the Sanctuary's Asian elephants would be allowed to cohabitate together?

A: Our goal is to cure any of the elephants that have TB. It is our understanding that with proper treatment this is possible. After treatment any elephant that is cured and TB free will be allowed to move over to the Lake Land Property and experience the benefit of the growing Asian family, the larger habitat and the 25-acre lake.

Q: Bringing in this Hawthorn herd seems like such a huge financial undertaking, not to mention time-consuming due to their special medical needs. Will this mean the Sanctuary will not be able to accept any more elephants for the foreseeable future?

A: Accepting the Hawthorn elephants will mean that we must work harder to meet our increased financial responsibilities but it will not prevent us from continuing to accept needy elephants as we always have. Actually, creating three separate and distinct facilities—the quarantine facility, the African facility and the expanded Asian facility gives us the flexibility to rescue more elephants. The new Asian barn has a 20 elephant capacity, so we will be able to accept additional Asian elephants immediately, provided that they are TB free. Elephants will be evaluated for their health condition and placed into the appropriate facility. Those accepted into the quarantine facility will be treated, and upon recovery, moved into one of the two TB free areas, either African or Asian, thereby creating room for more needy elephants.

Q: What happened to Sue?

A: Sue was one of the Hawthorn elephants that was labeled dangerous. During her circus days only a select few had hands-on contact with her. In the Hawthorn barn she was managed in a protected contacted system where her care was provided from behind a protective barrier. Only one keeper managed her hands-on. The Hawthorn veterinarian chose to tranquilize Sue to draw blood for safety reasons. Until the necropsy reports are final we won't know why Sue had a adverse reaction to the drug which resulted in her death.

Q: Are the other Hawthorn elephants healthy enough for travel?

A: Blood was taken to determine the health status of the elephants. According to veterinary evaluation of the blood work, all of the elephants appear to be healthy enough for travel.