A remarkable milestone is upon us! Today, March 3, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
March 3, 2025, Hohenwald, TN - Over the last three decades, we have been privileged to offer a home to elephants, providing them with diverse habitats, lifetime care, and the freedom of choice that all animals deserve. As we reflect on this incredible journey, we also look ahead to the future and the next chapter for elephants at The Sanctuary and around the world.
From the beginning, when The Sanctuary was founded on 110 acres, the mission has been rooted in providing elephants the space to roam, receive care, and form bonds with other elephants. Today, The Elephant Sanctuary spans over 3,060 acres of rolling Tennessee hills, where elephants like Tange, Flora, Nosey, Sukari, Edie, Sissy, Billie, Minnie, Debbie, Ronnie, Osh, Artie, and many others can embrace more natural behaviors and make choices about their interactions with their surroundings.
As we step into this season of celebration, the elephants are already enjoying the warmth of the spring sun, foraging through fresh greens, and enjoying their well-deserved rest. African elephant Edie was the first to received celebratory enrichment in honor of the 30th anniversary — a donut-shaped device filled with Mazuri feed and hay! The device encourages the elephants to search for their diet inside as a supplemental cognitive challenge, much like they interact with their environment in the wild to find food.
We are working on preparations for the summer arrival of two female elephants from the Louisville Zoo, and we are filled with excitement about what lies ahead beyond this 30th year. The Sanctuary remains committed to meeting the changing needs of elephants. Our ongoing habitat expansions, the arrival of new elephants, and enhancements to our care facilities are important to this deep commitment to these intelligent and social beings.
Plans are in motion to expand programming at The Elephant Discovery Center, located in downtown Hohenwald, broaden our Distance Learning programs and strengthen our partnerships with global conservation organizations. These efforts will greatly contribute to our important work to care for and protect elephants and to educate others, both now and in the future.
"As we celebrate the past, we look to the years ahead as being full of opportunity," says Janice Zeitlin, CEO. "I, along with the Board and Staff, am deeply grateful for the support of our donors who have made this journey possible. Together, we will continue to provide elephants with the space and care they need to live out their days in peace and dignity and to work for a better world for all elephants."
To learn more about The Sanctuary's 30th anniversary celebration and events happening throughout the year, visit elephants.com/sanctuary30th.
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 34 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.