State of Tennessee, Lewis County, and City of Hohenwald
Declare October as Elephant Awareness Month

Hohenwald, TN — September 27, 2007

In recognition of the commitment, perseverance, and milestones achieved by The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, the State of Tennessee, Lewis County and the City of Hohenwald have declared October 2007 as Elephant Awareness Month.

A proclamation signed by Governor Phil Bredesen states: The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee continually sets and reaches goals to better the lives of all elephants worldwide.

City and County Proclamations will be presented and signed on October 1 by City Mayor Don Jones and County Mayor Kenneth Turnbow to Sanctuary Co-Founders Carol Buckley and Scott Blais.

"We greatly appreciate the honor from the State, Lewis County, and Hohenwald," said Carol Buckley, Sanctuary Executive Director. "We are constantly working to better the lives of these extraordinary animals, as well as educate the public about just how intelligent, sensitive, and social they are." 

In support of this recognition, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has organized in-school visits and classroom workshops with Lewis County grades Pre-K through high school. Local radio and newspapers will feature educational information about elephants. Citizens are encouraged to observe this month by striving to help raise awareness and educate others about the crisis facing captive and wild elephants.

A highlight of Elephant Awareness Month will be the Education Gallery/Welcome Center groundbreaking ceremony to be held on Monday October 15 at 11am at the site of the two recently purchased Main Street Hohenwald buildings.  This event is being co-sponsored by The Elephant Sanctuary and The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce. This will mark the beginning of the renovation of two buildings formerly slated for demolition. The Elephant Sanctuary Welcome Center is Phase I in the development of The Elephant Sanctuary Learning Center and will contain a visitor’s center, educational exhibits and gift shop, along with the Sanctuary administrative offices.

Operating on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary has been developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered African and Asian elephants. The nonprofit organization, licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, is designed specifically for old, sick or needy elephants that have been retired from zoos and circuses.  A true sanctuary, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is not intended to provide entertainment; resident elephants are not required to perform for or entertain the public. Instead, they are encouraged to live like elephants. As stated by Phil Snyder, former regional director of the Humane Society of the United States, "The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee represents the future of enlightened captive elephant management."

To find out more about the plight of captive elephants, and to monitor the progress of the residents of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee please visit our website at www.elephants.com.    

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