The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is very excited to announce that the organization has earned re-accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) as of April 16, 2019. The Accreditation Committee “recognizes the crucial role that The Elephant Sanctuary plays in providing a permanent sanctuary for elephants in North America.” The Sanctuary first became accreddited by GFAS Dec. 10, 2014.
Accreditation signifies that The Elephant Sanctuary meets GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed elephant care standards, which are confirmed by a comprehensive site visit. Accreditation also signifies adherence to standards addressing the sustainability of the organization, ethical principles, finances, staffing, education outreach, security and safety and other operational aspects.
“The Elephant Sanctuary is incredibly proud to be accredited by GFAS,” said Janice Zeitlin, CEO. “It’s an accomplishment that reinforces the effort our team has put into sustaining our forward momentum: ensuring optimal veterinary and husbandry care of the resident elephants, expanding public education around the extensive needs of both captive and wild elephants, and facilitating operational accountability.”
The Elephant Sanctuary aims to meet the needs of this intelligent, social species by affording them vast habitats to roam, forage, and wallow; socialization within a herd of their own kind; and elephant care that relies on non-dominant, positive-reinforcement training in a protected-contact setting. About Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the sole purpose of strengthening and supporting the work of animal sanctuaries, rescues, and rehabilitation centers worldwide. The goal of GFAS in working with and assisting these animal care facilities is to ensure they are supported, honored, recognized and rewarded for meeting important criteria in providing care to the animals in residence. GFAS was founded in 2007 by animal protection leaders from a number of different organizations in response to virtually unchecked and often hidden exploitation of animals for human entertainment and financial profit. The GFAS Board of Directors guides the organization’s work in a collaborative manner. While the board includes those in top leadership at The Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and American Anti-Vivisection Society, all board members serve as individuals dedicated to animal sanctuaries. www.sanctuaryfederation.org.
About The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation, licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Since 1995, 28 elephants have found safe haven and lifetime care at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Visit www.elephants.com to see the elephants in their habitats via live-streaming EleCams.