FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2024
Hohenwald, TN - Celebrate World Elephant Day with The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee on August 12th and embark on an exciting journey into the world of mammoths! Join us for a special interview with Dr. Lindsey Yann, resident Paleontologist, and Brandon Kenning, Park Guide at Waco Mammoth National Monument in Waco, Texas. Discover the incredible story of a nursery herd of Pleistocene Columbian mammoths and their connection to modern elephants, like those we care for here in Tennessee.
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing a staggering 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths once roamed the lands that we now call Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens found at Waco Mammoth National Monument represent a unique piece of history — the nation's first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of Ice Age Columbian mammoths.
Dr. Yann and her team have uncovered groundbreaking insights into the lives of these majestic creatures, challenging initial hypotheses with new research findings. Join us as we discover how these Columbian mammoths, cousins to the woolly mammoth, lived and tragically perished over 65,000 years ago, and explore the lessons we have learned from their closest living ancestors — elephants!
Tune in on August 12 to hear select questions answered by Dr. Yann and team! The interview will air on YouTube and social media, and a link will be sent out via a special email newsletter. Sign up to receive this newsletter by visiting www.elephants.com.
We can't wait to honor the past, present, and future of elephants with you this World Elephant Day.
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 33 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 accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. The Elephant Sanctuary is currently home to 12 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.
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Media Contact:
Ashley Dehnke, Public Relations & Communications Manager
615.975.6226