From Circus to Sanctuary: A Refuge in Middle Tennessee is Saving Elephants’ Lives

Both Asian and African elephant species are either endangered or critically endangered, with fewer than half a million of them left in the wild — a staggering and sobering statistic. Thankfully, a handful of them have found their way to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee.

Nestled in the tranquil hills of this small Middle Tennessee town, this retreat is where elephants can find healing and refuge. Spanning more than 3,060 acres, The Elephant Sanctuary has become a beacon of hope for elephants rescued from circuses, zoos, and even private ownership. The Sanctuary’s mission is rooted in respecting elephants’ complex physical and psychological needs, and its work goes far beyond simply providing a haven for these majestic creatures. It’s a place of education, offering the world a chance to connect with elephants in meaningful ways.

The Birth of The Elephant Sanctuary

The Elephant Sanctuary’s story officially began in 1995 with a single elephant named Tarra. An Asian elephant who spent much of her life performing in a circus before she was given a chance to retire, she became the first elephant to call the sanctuary home. 

Founders Carol Buckley and Scott Blais were inspired to create a space where elephants — specifically female Asian elephants — could live out their lives in peace and with dignity. “Our founders had done a lot of traveling circuses,” explains Laura Roddy, The Elephant Sanctuary’s education manager. “At one point, Tarra was rollerskating. But they found she needed something different — that lifestyle wasn’t right for her. At the time, she was being temporarily held at the Nashville Zoo, so they started looking for land in Georgia and Alabama. It happens that they found 110 acres that met all of their needs here in Lewis County, Tennessee.”

Tarra’s story was a turning point and the beginning of a legacy.

Since that time, The Elephant Sanctuary has grown exponentially. Over the years, it has provided refuge for more than 34 elephants from various backgrounds, including circuses, zoos, and other challenging circumstances. “We can now accommodate both Asian and African elephants,” shares Laura, “and in 2023, we started taking bulls as well — male elephants. As we speak, we have 13 elephants with ample space, and we welcome more.”

Caring for Elephants’ Physical, Social, and Emotional Needs

Elephants are intelligent, social animals with needs that go far beyond medical care and being fed. They’re also unique, each with their own personalities and histories. 

“We recognize the elephants are wild animals with complex physical, social, and emotional needs, and there is no free-contact management here at The Elephant Sanctuary,” Laura tells us. “Everything is in protected contact through fence lines, and we do not practice dominant training. If they decide to walk away at any point during a training session, they can. And they don’t have any fear of food deprivation or punishment — they know that’s their space, and we’re not going to come into it.”

If that sounds fairly straightforward, it isn’t. In fact, there are even significant differences in the care required for African versus Asian elephants. African elephants are typically larger, stronger, and more physically robust, which has necessitated the installation of stronger fencing systems and other infrastructure improvements at the Sanctuary.

The care staff and vet teams conduct daily, weekly, and monthly checkups of the elephant residents, including dental and weight monitoring, bi-weekly pedicures, and radiographic imaging to monitor chronic conditions like arthritis. They also provide treatments like laser therapy and pain management. 

One of the most unique features of The Elephant Sanctuary is its protected contact management approach. Unlike some elephant care facilities that use direct or “free-contact” management (where elephants and caregivers interact face-to-face), the Sanctuary uses barriers — fences, gates, and walls — to separate the elephants from their caregivers. This isn’t just for safety but also to give the elephants autonomy. The elephants choose how they interact with humans, significantly reducing stress and allowing them to maintain their social structures without the intrusion of human dominance.

Caregivers use positive reinforcement methods, including food rewards and behavior-modification tools like targets, to encourage cooperation in essential tasks, such as health assessments. The sanctuary never uses punishment, and this philosophy extends to every aspect of elephant care.

A Place of Education

Beyond its physical and emotional care for elephants, The Elephant Sanctuary is committed to educating the public about elephant welfare, conservation issues, and the importance of preserving elephants in the wild. “The Elephant Sanctuary is the largest elephant habitat for both African and Asian elephants in North America,” explains Laura, “and we are the only elephant care facility accredited by both the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).”

The Elephant Sanctuary also works with several international organizations to promote conservation efforts and raise awareness about the plight of elephants worldwide. They actively work to protect elephants in the Sanctuary and their natural habitats and educate the public about ongoing threats like poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

The Elephant Sanctuary’s distance learning programs reach out to schools and other educational institutions around the world. The programs are designed to align with academic standards and are available free of charge to educators. Whether in Iowa or India, students can engage with the Sanctuary’s staff to learn about elephants and their care.

The Sanctuary’s education center in Hohenwald is open to the public and houses a beautiful interpretive museum that provides visitors with information about elephants’ care, their natural behaviors, and the conservation challenges they face in the wild. The museum also features the stories of individual elephants who have found refuge at the Sanctuary, allowing visitors to connect with the animals on a deeper level.

I Spy: The Sanctuary’s EleCams

One of the most innovative aspects of the Sanctuary’s educational outreach is EleCams — cameras installed throughout the Sanctuary grounds that provide a live, real-time view of the elephants as they roam freely on the property. These cameras offer an intimate glimpse into the elephants’ lives and help the Sanctuary’s staff monitor their health and behavior without disturbing them. The EleCams also allow an international audience to connect with the creatures.

Meet the Elephants

The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 13 elephants, each with a unique story of survival and resilience. “My favorite part of my job is telling their stories because every single elephant has their own unique story,” says Laura. “A great example is Nosey. She was a circus elephant being pulled in a horse trailer from place to place, giving carnival rides and doing little shows here and there. She was a poster child for getting elephants out of circuses. In November 2017, we got a phone call from animal control in Lawrence County, Alabama, asking, ‘Are you familiar with this elephant named Nosey? We just confiscated her on the side of the road. Can you guys come pick her up?’ Within 24 hours, Nosey was at the Sanctuary. We had a legal battle for custody, and she officially belongs to Sanctuary as of 2020. Her story is incredible because she had people advocating for her and really supporting her getting out of the circus and into the Sanctuary.”

Flora, another Sanctuary resident, spent years in private ownership, performing in circuses and even appearing in Pee Wee Herman’s 1988 film Big Top Pee-Wee. After her owners recognized that she needed a better life, they sought a more permanent home, and she arrived at the Sanctuary in 2004. Flora, now 42 years old, has flourished. She’s living a life where she can make her own choices and form bonds with her peers.

The care provided at the Sanctuary is tailored to each elephant’s individual needs. Some, like Ronnie, have seasonal allergies and require specialized skincare treatments. Others, like Osh and Sukari, have distinctive food preferences. “Every elephant has food they really like,” says Laura. “Osh, our newest elephant, likes beet pulp and blueberry bagels. Sukari, one of our African elephants, hates ginger so much — she doesn’t like ginger anywhere near her food.” The care team also creates customized solutions like sleep hammocks for some of the elephants.

The Sanctuary’s extensive grounds allow the elephants to roam freely. They enjoy a variety of habitats, from wooded areas to lakes and mud pits, where they can engage in natural behaviors like foraging, wallowing, swimming … and even knocking over trees. They are also gradually given the opportunity to interact with other elephants, forming strong social bonds that can be critical to their emotional well-being.

A Bright Future

The Elephant Sanctuary continues to grow in terms of physical space and its impact on elephant welfare worldwide. By providing these elephants with a safe space and a chance to experience the natural behaviors that are so important to their well-being, this organization and its space have proven to be more than just a refuge — it’s a model for how elephants should be treated with dignity and respect.

The Sanctuary’s educational outreach, advocacy for elephant conservation, and innovative care practices ensure that elephants, both in captivity and the wild, have a fighting chance at a better future.

Find out more about The Elephant Sanctuary and the incredible work they do there, and learn more about elephants, meet the current Sanctuary residents, and check out the EleCams at elephants.com.