Lota and Misty were released to the Sanctuary November 17, 2004.
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• Estimated birth - 1951
• Birthplace - India
• Birth status - wild born
• Captured from the wild - 1952
• Died - February 9, 2005

Lota was wild caught and spent her first two years in captivity in a zoo in India. She was then shipped to the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin where she spent the next 36 years. When the zoo was unable to identify why Lota began to bully one of her cellmates, she was sold for one dollar to the Hawthorn Corporation, a company that trains and rents elephants to circuses.

Lota was broken, trained and rented out to the Walker Brothers Circus. In the fall of 1997, she was diagnosed with the human strain of tuberculosis, a disease that was prevalent in the the Hawthorn herd. It was not until March of 2004 that the USDA took action to ensure that Lota and the other Hawthorn elephants would be sent to sanctuaries, where they would finally receive the care and medical attention they needed.

Lota was donated to the Elephant Sanctuary and arrived at her permanent home November 17, 2004.

She passed away February 9, 2005.

• Estimated birth - 1964
• Birthplace - India
• Birth status - wild born
• Captured from the wild - 1965

Misty was captured from the wilds of India in 1965 when she was approximately one year old. Although little is known about her first decade in captivity, we do know that she traveled with circuses and became known as a dangerous elephant. In the early 70s, Misty was purchased by Ralph Helfer, who ran a company that provided trained animals for use in television, movies, and amusement parks. Ralph Helfer was the founder of Gentle Jungle, a company which offered internships to students interested in learning “affection training.” He is best known as the author of the book “Modoc.”

In July of 1983, Misty was one of four elephants performing at the now defunct Lion Country Safari in Irvine, California. It is reported that on July 25, Misty broke lose from her chains. A park zoologist was killed as he tried to capture her. After the accident Misty was whisked away and absorbed by the circus industry until 1988 when she was purchased by the Hawthorn Corporation. Misty maintained her reputation as a dangerous elephant until the day the Sanctuary staff took custody of her from the Hawthorn Corporation. Her parting shot was to strike John Cuneo, owner of the Hawthorn Corporation, across the chest with her trunk as he attempted to make her stretch out on her sternum so he could remove her chains.

Upon her arrival at the Sanctuary, Misty turned over a new leaf. She is playful, cooperative and most importantly non-aggressive, allowing keepers to form a close and safe relationship with her. Her playfulness is contagious and her affection for all she meets is obvious.