On March 3, we celebrate Flora’s 44th birthday—a meaningful day and anniversary of The Sanctuary’s founding. March 3 is observed worldwide as World Wildlife Day too, a time to recognize the essential roles wild animals and plants play for people and the planet. For us, all of these milestones beautifully intersect.
We also had the privilege of celebrating Tange turning 53 last month, who arrived at The Sanctuary on February 19, 2004. Flora and Tange were the first African female elephants to call The Sanctuary home, marking an important evolution in our history. Established in 1995 as a refuge for female Asian elephants, The Sanctuary expanded in the early 2000s as more African elephants needed retirement options. Tange and her companion Zula arrived in 2004, becoming the first African elephants to roam these protected hills. Flora followed soon after, and today, both elephants continue to shape what sanctuary living looks like.
Recently, supporters watching the live EleCams were treated to a familiar and much-loved sight: Flora spending a warm afternoon in the East Valley of Redbud Habitat, confidently navigating a steep hillside while debarking and browsing. Steady against the incline, methodically working at a tree trunk, she embodied what many have come to recognize as classic Flora behavior—independent, focused, and determined. See if you can spot the bobcat in the midst! A variety of different native wildlife shares The Sanctuary's land, and most seem to steer clear of the elephants, posing no safety threat.
As we close out our 30th Anniversary year, these February and March milestones feel especially meaningful. And while our 30th anniversary year has officially come to a close, the celebration continues. Our Tennessee specialty license plate, featuring Edie, carries this milestone forward in a very tangible way. Each preorder brings us closer to seeing The Sanctuary represented on roads across the state and helps sustain the work that makes moments like Flora’s hillside browse and Tange’s mud bath possible.
To move into production, we must reach 1,000 preorders by June 15. Every commitment counts. Once the threshold is met, the plate will become an official Tennessee specialty license plate, offering a visible reminder of The Sanctuary’s mission wherever it travels.
By reserving a plate, supporters are doing more than placing an order—they are helping share The Sanctuary’s story across Tennessee and ensuring that elephants continue to have space, choice, and lifelong care.
This season, we celebrate birthdays. We celebrate wildlife. And we celebrate 30 years of Sanctuary—with many more ahead.