For Immediate Release
February 2, 2024
Hohenwald, TN - It has been one year since Artie joined our herd at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, becoming the 29th resident and The Sanctuary’s first permanent African bull elephant.
To commemorate Artie’s anniversary, Care Staff went all out in preparing Artie's habitat for a festive celebration, featuring an elaborate spread of vegan pumpkin cake adorned with a variety of produce and grain, lots of hay, bamboo, cantaloupes, and even a donated Christmas tree! Upon first sight, Artie quickly made his way over to begin the festivities, promptly munching on a bamboo shoot. Staff witnessed Artie as he devoured every bite of the sweet cantaloupe and pumpkin cake until nothing was left.
Artie, a male African savanna elephant born in the wilds of Zimbabwe in 1983, was orphaned due to a government-sponsored culling before the age of one. Captured and brought to the United States in 1984, Artie spent over twenty years in performance and exhibition. In October 2007, he was transferred to the North Carolina Zoo to join their multigenerational herd. Recognizing his needs as an aging bull, the North Carolina Zoo made the decision to transfer the now 41-year-old Artie to The Sanctuary for lifetime care and continued socialization.
Since Artie's arrival, he has shown many signs of comfort with his new home, quickly acclimating to his surroundings and to Care Staff. He chooses to spend his time engaging in social activities, foraging native plants, and pushing down hardwoods and pines. “Knocking down and eating trees is a natural behavior that we often observe our elephants doing,” says Kristy Eaker, The Sanctuary's Senior Manager of Elephant Care. While these opportunities to explore vast acreage, exhibit natural elephant behaviors, and meet new companions are always top priorities for the staff, they come with their own set of challenges.
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee was founded in 1995 to address the needs of female Asian and African elephants. However, in response to the growing population of male elephants in human care, The Sanctuary has committed to constructing facilities capable of accommodating any elephant in need.
Artie, now the largest and heaviest elephant at The Sanctuary, has presented Staff with numerous learning opportunities. His presence has highlighted the distinct challenges involved in caring for African bull elephants and the larger set of needs they require. "Some of the challenges we face when managing bulls are simply due to their size," says Eaker. "Artie stands at 11 feet tall, and we had to make several modifications to the facilities to accommodate his height. This included expanding the height of his Protected Contact training walls and Staff learning to perform care treatments on a ladder so we could effectively access him."
Artie currently resides temporarily at the Elephant Health Care Center while a permanent barn is under construction. Plans are underway for Tonka, the largest African male in North America, to join The Sanctuary from Zoo Knoxville later this year. The two new bull barns, each spanning 3,000 square feet, feature heated stalls and robust steel fencing fit for strong bulls.
Thanks to the many generous donors and supporters, The Elephant Sanctuary successfully kicked off the Building for Bulls campaign in 2023. This funding initiative will continue until Tonka arrives and the new barns are fully outfitted, ensuring the large, magnificent bulls have a permanent home. You can read more about these plans here.
The Sanctuary looks forward to many more years of caring for Artie, who is known for his calm disposition and companionship. “I love the loud chortle noises Artie makes,” says McWhorter. “Especially when Care Staff are speaking around him, Artie will start ‘talking’ back – he definitely dominates the conversation!”
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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 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 by 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.