Something I need to share...

[Plow]

I work at a Sanctuary for sick, old, and needy elephants rescued from circus' and zoos. We have been open since 1995 and have been sanctuary to 24 elephants so far. In November, a 21 year old male Asian elephant named Ned was confiscated by the USDA and brought to us to care for. He was emaciated and scared. If you have five minutes, watch the video at this link and see what I mean.

The Elephant Sanctuary : Hohenwald Tennessee

He passed on this past weekend to his next journey and I wanted to share his story with you all. His short time with us here has really changed a lot of people and we are all better for it. Another of our Asian elephants, Bunny, passed on this weekend as well...a few hours before Ned. She was 57 and died of natural causes. Ned was in serious pain since the day before when he laid down and wouldn't get back up. We were using IV fluids to put painkillers in him so he would be comfortable...but no matter what we did, it wasn't working. When Bunny passed, Ned flexed one more time in pain...then remained still and calm for the rest of his time. He reached out his trunk and gently felt the people around him before he passed...almost saying goodbye.

My reason for posting this, besides just hoping to help raise awareness for elephants, is to ask a question. I myself am not a religious person, but I am not sure about what happens after death...no one can be. Do you guys think Bunny helped him transition on...or is it just nice thoughts for people in mourning? Being around these amazing animals...I am surprised every day at how intelligent they are and how emotional they are. Check out the website and see what you guys think...keep Ned in your thoughts/prayers/meditations.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

You might be interested in checking out some writings involving Hospice and the process of death.


Rather she "helped" his transition after life was over is a question no one can answer, but the concept of "permission" to die, and staying alive for the sake of another beyond the "will" of death is an extremely interesting (and emotional) subject.

[noblemountain]

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that I never patronize them.

I can never really go back to a circus after seeing how they treat their animals. Most of our elephants came from the circus and were beaten, abused, and starved...not to mention an animal that needs LOTS of space, being chained up for 18 hours a day isn't exactly a good situation. Two of our girls were on the "when animals attack" show in a video where they were in a parade and they started fighting with each other...one of them pushed the other through a storefront window in a car dealership. A couple of the others were retired here after killing someone who was abusing them in the circus. One of the girls still has an anklet from her chains on because, even after being here for a year, she doesn't let anyone touch it. They used to drag her down by it with Caterpillar's and then beat her while she was on the ground.

The woman who founded the Sanctuary testified recently in the case against Barnum & Bailey about the mistreatment of elephants in the circus and hopefully this will begin a nationwide push to get elephants out of the circus. Brazil recently passed a law banning elephants from the circus in that country...it's sad that we're still behind. I don't really have a problem with most zoos...although most of the people here would disagree with me, as long as they are given enough room and not made to walk on concrete (looking at you New Orleans Zoo) then it shouldn't be a problem. The Philidelphia Zoo retired their last Asian girl here when they deemed their elephant exhibit to be not up to standards. They were the first zoo to go against the AZA on this issue, and the AZA even pulled some of their funding for it, but it was the right thing to do.

[Tomk]

I feel bad because I saw Ringling Bros when they came to Baltimore in March. My wife thought that it would be fun for our daughter. I had only heard about them taking baby elephants away from their mothers too early at that time. I thought that was bad but figured that they replaced the "Mother Figure" with a trainer. I had no idea it was this bad.

After some research Royal Hannaford circus lost their license to have animals and contracted the same guy that trains Ringling Bros, Tim Frisco.

Here is a video of how he trains them. kinda NMS:

Spoiler: show

[noblemountain]

I feel bad because I saw Ringling Bros when they came to Baltimore in March. My wife thought that it would be fun for our daughter. I had only heard about them taking baby elephants away from their mothers too early at that time. I thought that was bad but figured that they replaced the "Mother Figure" with a trainer. I had no idea it was this bad.

After some research Royal Hannaford circus lost their license to have animals and contracted the same guy that trains Ringling Bros, Tim Frisco.

Here is a video of how he trains them. kinda NMS:

Spoiler: show

People like this make me sick. I have been avoiding posting those kinds of videos and just focusing on the positive things because those videos really just serve to piss me off.

[Linliel]

Awwwwww wow those videos were awesome. Sorry to hear for the loss of the beautiful elephants though

[Tomk]

I don't meant to upset anyone but happy Elephants won't make people stop going to animal shows.

[noblemountain]

I don't meant to upset anyone but happy Elephants won't make people stop going to animal shows.

You are 100% correct. I don't see the circus lasting too much longer in the US though. Barnum & Baily has it's back against the wall a bit in this court hearing at the moment and it is causing people to really look at what's going on. Most of the people who go to animal shows don't really know what's going on behind the scenes though...I would like to think if they saw the animal getting beaten they would think twice about it.

[Tomk]

They'll just start ripping off Cirque de Soleil and make more money than ever. It sucks.

[noblemountain]

They'll just start ripping off Cirque de Soleil and make more money than ever. It sucks.

lol...I dunno...I think the circus is a dying business just because of there being so much to entertain us nowadays. In the early days people would look forward to it all year because there was no other real forms of entertainment. Now people can just sit on youtube if they wanna see people get mauled by animals.

[Seanr]

Tim Frisco.

I wish he could feel what he is doing to them...

[noblemountain]

Just bumping to share a video celebrating Bunny's life and passing.

YouTube - Namaste, Bunny

CBS was here on Memorial Day doing a follow up on their piece with Tarra and Bella, I'll post that video once it's aired. They were also on Oprah a couple weeks ago, but with all the business with Ned and Bunny I missed it. I can't find the video anywhere, so if someone runs across it, I would love to see it.