We are excited to announce that Nichole, a 48-year-old female Asian elephant, arrived safely at The Sanctuary from San Antonio Zoo early on Thursday, March 9, officially making her one of 11 elephants now living at The Sanctuary and the 30th elephant resident since The Sanctuary was founded in 1995.
Nichole was part of San Antonio Zoo’s geriatric herd coined “The Golden Girls.” After the passing of Nichole’s two companions, Karen and Lucky, in 2022, San Antonio Zoo made the decision to transfer Nichole to The Sanctuary to provide her with continued social and herd opportunities. Nichole had been residing at San Antonio Zoo since 2016, after spending decades as part of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey traveling circus.
Nichole made the 800-mile journey from San Antonio, Texas, to Hohenwald, Tennessee, in a climate-controlled crate alongside a transport team and San Antonio Zoo’s veterinarian, Elephant Manager, and support staff.
Nichole arrived just as the sun was rising, with a beautiful pink and violet sky to welcome her to her new home. The Elephant Sanctuary’s Care Staff and Vet Team greeted her with plenty of fresh water, favorite foods, and enrichment to make sure she was comfortable. Nichole began to explore her surroundings right away, intrigued by the enrichment, dusting herself with sand and touching everything with her trunk. She will be residing at Asia’s nine-stall heated barn with access to expansive habitat space.
"It has been an exciting year for The Sanctuary as our herd continues to grow! We are honored to have the opportunity to care for Nichole as she ages," says Janice Zeitlin, CEO of The Sanctuary. “We have been modifying facilities and cross-training staff to ensure a comfortable transition for her. Nichole will be provided with space and opportunity to explore her new surroundings at her own pace."
Donors will be able to help contribute to Nichole’s care through our Adopt and Feed an Elephant programs in the coming weeks. Nichole t-shirts will also be available at shop.elephants.com, so stay tuned via our social media and website!
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About The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee
Located on 3,060 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is the nation’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically for Asian and African elephants. Founded in 1995, The Sanctuary has provided 30 elephants with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their well-being. The Sanctuary is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and has been dually recognized through certification by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and accreditation by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 10 elephant residents.
To learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, please visit our website at www.elephants.com. We welcome you to stay engaged and observe the elephants via our live-streaming EleCams at www.elephants.com/elecam, and connect with us via social media.