Before that, Tarra lived in the back of a truck at a tire store. As time passed and Buckley’s bond with Tarra became stronger, she realized that circus life was no life for an elephant. She told CNN that “…to train and dominate an elephant was really breaking its spirit.”
Tarra was born in Burma in 1974 and shortly after her arrival in the United States, the Asian elephant was declared endangered. All importation of Asian elephants into America was halted and for the next twenty years, Tarra traveled the world with Buckley entertaining people in the circus, zoos, on television and in movies.
A Sanctuary is Born
Buckley and Tarra met Scott Blais at a Canadian wildlife safari and knowing that elephants did not deserve the life of captivity, the idea for an elephant sanctuary was born. In 1995 development of The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee began. The sanctuary is the largest natural-habitat refuge of its kind and is a non-profit organization licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
With over 2700 acres, they are accredited by the Association of Sanctuaries, designed especially for sick, needy and old elephants retired from circuses and zoos. The sanctuary is a natural habitat with three separate and protected areas for Asian and African elephants. These elephants are not expected to do any performing or entertaining but are encouraged to simply live like elephants.
There are currently 15 African and Asian elephants calling the sanctuary home, and after spending years living alone in captivity they can now roam free, feed and shelter themselves and interact with others. Being a true sanctuary, this is not a zoo and visitors are not allowed on the property to view the elephants. This helps keep the elephants’ lives as natural as possible.
Living a Normal Life
The elephants are able to feed themselves by grazing, sharing space with other animals such as deer, wild turkey, raccoons and skunks. The Asian elephants can eat as much as 100 pounds of grass a day but staff supplements that with grains and vitamins.
The Elephant Sanctuary receives elephants when owners approach them or when the government seizes them from abusive owners. Circus and zoo life has proven to be abusive to elephants and shown that they can suffer post-traumatic stress disorder just as humans do. When an elephant owner approaches the sanctuary on his own it’s because he wants a better life for the animal.
Experiencing Tough Economic Times
Since opening in 1995, Blais and Buckley have been able to raise enough money to keep the sanctuary running as well as expanding its facilities. Unfortunately the tough economy is taking a toll on them, as with most sanctuaries and rescue groups, and they are counting on continued contributions from the public, membership support and in-kind donations.
 |
