In January, we celebrated a very special anniversary for one of our most beloved residents. On January 26, Sissy marked 26 years at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Like birthdays, arrival anniversaries are meaningful moments at The Sanctuary, as the exact birthdates of many elephants are unknown, and each year here represents another chapter of safety, care, and choice.
Sissy is our longest-time resident, having arrived at The Sanctuary on January 26, 2000. Her path here was long and extraordinary. Captured in Thailand as a calf, Sissy was brought to the United States in the late 1960s and spent decades in zoos, including surviving a historic Texas flood with only her trunk above water to breathe. After years in exhibition, community advocacy helped secure her retirement to The Sanctuary, where she could finally experience life in expansive, natural habitats.
Sissy’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and trust. From overcoming a fear of water to skillfully using her partially paralyzed trunk to eat, drink, and explore, she continues to show strength and individuality every day.