Elephant Sanctuary

A wonderful day volunteering at the sanctuary. It was educational and very fun! The projects and access to sanctuary personnel gave me a better understanding of what is needed for the “Sanctuary” of elephants. The Elephant Sanctuary also taught me so much about the need for international cooperation and sharing of information regarding the safety and care of elephants.

Projects included lifting and moving hay, plus stuffing hay in tires and big objects, etc. It doesn’t sound fun, but it was great! Plus elephants eat up to 18 hours a day …. They need lots of hay! AND the staff delegated all the heavy lifting to the strongest employees.

We also toured all three parts of the sanctuary, including barns, feeding areas, etc., which was amazing. Every aspect of the daily care for each elephant was explained to us. The staff loves and respects the elephants. There were many stories about Edie, Nosey, and the other wonderful elephants.

I highly recommend donating time and money to the Elephant Sanctuary. A special shout out to Laura Roddy who organized our day visiting the sanctuary.

Enjoyed being a volunteer for a day. The staff were super friendly and everything was well planned and organized.

I enjoyed a second volunteer visit to The Elephant Sanctuary. Once again, I had an incredible experience! The staff is welcoming and deeply committed to the well-being of these magnificent animals. I'm inspired by the level of care and respect given to each elephant, while maintaining a peaceful and natural environment. As a volunteer, I felt like part of something truly meaningful. I’m already looking forward to my next visit. This sanctuary is a gem and a model for ethical elephant care.

The elephants that are in the sanctuary all have a touching and heartbreaking story. To be able to see the extensive land, care and resources they are now immersed in is amazing. It is overwhelming to see a former circus and/or zoo elephant who was traumatized from a young age be able to roam freely, without any human contact. It is so sad to hear their stories, but so uplifting to see how they are living out the rest of their days. The work at the sanctuary is unmeasurable and I am thankful this good organization and good staff are there to give love and care to these magnificent creatures.

This is the most amazing charity I have ever been a part of. The kindness and care shown to these beautiful precious souls by their staff is incredible. We should never cage animals ever. Just for our selfish entertainment. is not worth their lives.

Thank you so much for what you do.

Lynette Spencer

The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald Tennessee is my number one nonprofit. To know that the work these people do to insure the elephants are respected, cared for, loved, and above all free from confinements. To be able to help this sanctuary is an honor and my respect for the staffs ability to provide so much for these majestic animals is nothing less than noble.

A true sanctuary where elephants can live their lives with dignity and the best of care. One of the best.

I’ve been a volunteer with The Elephant Sanctuary for about a decade. Getting a glimpse of the work behind the scenes has been incredible, even if I’ve only scratched the surface as a volunteer. They do amazing work and everything is very well organized and intentional. The elephants are obviously very well cared for, and aside from their work caring for the animals currently in their care, the research and education opportunities are a great public service.

I contribute yearly to this wonderful organization that treats elephants as if they were their "pets". With so many of our beloved elephants being poached and killed, this place will always be a safe, caring and happy sanctuary for these animals. I wish more people can know about the elephant sanctuary and get to see for themselves what a great place it is for elephants to live for the rest of their lives!

Years ago I read an article in Parade Magazine about an elephant sanctuary in TN. I was so impressed with the care and knowledge and the willingness to help, support, save and nurture abused elephants. It is a beautiful haven for elephants to be "Elephants" and not have to submit to silly circus performances. My heart goes out to this sanctuary. It deserves much recognition for their love and care of elephants!

The elephant sanctuary is a wonderful place! They take wonderful care of the elephants and give them the best life possible. Their barns are state of the art and they use the latest technology to make them as comfortable as possible.

The Elephant sanctuary has been caring for elephants wisely and with love for many years.
It is one of my favorite charities, and makes me feel better when I learn of the good they do for these abused and traumatized beings.

The Elephant Sanctuary provides the best care ever for many retired-from-performing elephants. It also creates a great learning experience for people interested in the species, animal care, and ecology. The Sanctuary is a wonderful model of compassion and kindness.

I have watched this group blossom over the years into a stellar example of stewardship and passion. They have broadened the scope of their ministry without diluting their calling. Do not hesitate in trusting them with your support.

Amazing charity providing life changing and life giving support to elephants. Truly inspirational.

I fully support the work of The Elephant Sanctuary. I appreciate the fact that they do not allow public interaction with the elephants, but allow the elephants to live as nearly a normal life as possible. They are absolutely my favorite charity.

Not being able to visit the elephants in person, I am thrilled when I can see them on the ele-cam. I love elephants and have learned so much about them from the Sanctuary's newsletters. I admire and respect those that have made their career caring for these indescribably magnificent animals. I am so happy for them when they are removed from a confining zoo and given a final home at the Sanctuary. With the huge number of non-profits asking for support, I have chosen the Sanctuary, give when I can and have remembered them in my will. And I feel really good about it! I LOVE the Elephant Sanctuary.

I love The Elephant Sanctuary so much! They take excellent care of the elephants. They let us know how the elephants are doing every month. I've donated to them before, and I will do it again.

I discovered this wonderful nonprofit years ago, while looking for elephant related gift ideas. I read all about their mission, dedication to giving elephants a place to reside that mimics their original habitat, and desire to provide elephants from zoos, circuses and other captive programs a better place to spend their remaining years--and I was hooked! This is one if my very favorite charities, and I mention it to whomever I can when appropriate. I love that they've got the elephants' best interests at heart, rather than making them a "sideshow".... these amazing animals deserve the very best care, and this nonprofit gives it to them!

I started giving money to "The Elephant Sanctuary" in Tennessee several years ago. I always felt like elephants have not always been treated very well and this was my way of trying to help give them a better life. "The Elephant Sanctuary" really makes a difference for all the elephants that live there and they are great at keeping all their donors informed on what is happening. I feel like have made strides in helping the elephants and educating everyone on what that involves.

This non-profit does so much for elephants! I give generously every paycheck. There are few organizations doing so much for elephants, especially in the USA.

Their mission combined with their transparency in both the care of the animals and fiscal management makes this a charity I am proud to donate to.

I have been donating to the Sanctuary for almost 25 years! It has grown and is doing such great work here in the U.S. and helping true sanctuaries around the world. The Sanctuary trained me to be an Eleambassador, which means I can talk to school groups, scout meetings, church groups, etc. etc. about the Sanctuary and the different species of elephants as well as all the issues that elephants deal with: hunting, abuse, neglect, etc.

I have been supporting the Elephant Sanctuary for many years, when I first donated as a gift to my niece who is studying to be a vet. In my mind, it was just a one time donation - but I began getting the newsletter and truly fell in love with the elephants and the organization. I'm proud to continue my support and to continue to read the updates on not only the elephants but on the staff, facilities, outreach and their needs. I just flat out get a kick out of the work they do! A great organization doing important work.

My daughter and I travelled to participate in a volunteer day at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. We learned about the inner workings of the sanctuary and saw firsthand the wonderful work by the staff to create a safe and natural home for the elephants. We were expecting to be doing maintenance tasks for the day, but we also received education on the sanctuary and its elephants, interacted directly with the care staff, made enrichment items for the elephants, observed the sanctuary spaces, and were even surprised by views of some of the elephants. What a wonderful and surprising experience- it has inspired us to be more involved in supporting this and similar organizations that protect our world's creatures.

The care that the elephants receive at the Elephant Sanctuary is absolutely unparalleled. All of the staff are kind, enthusiastic, hard workers who give their all to ensure the elephants are living healthy and fulfilled lives. The facilities are in great shape, and the elephant habitats are beautiful. Such a breathtaking place.

Volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary in Holenwald, TN was such a rare opportunity! The staff was extremely informative, sharing stories, facts and background on the elephants as you went thru the day assisting. I have been donating to this organization for many years, followed the emails and also watching the elephants on videocam when available. The heartbreaking story many of these elephants endured thru the years is just indescribable for such an emotional and intelligent animal. Being on the grounds, seeing their world and feeling a sense of purpose to support their needs brought new awareness to my soul.

Extremely well-organized and focused experience where volunteers can physically help the sanctuary and where we can see where our efforts will benefit the elephants. Volunteers also learn a lot about elephants, as well as the resident elephants, from very knowledgeable staff coordinators. Great hands-experience!

While I have always loved elephants and known about the Elephant Sanctuary for years, it had always been a dream of mine to one day be able to visit the facility. It has been an honor to have been chosen to volunteer at this facility The caregivers are absolutely amazing- you know that they are there strictly for the enhancement and care of these magnificent creatures. The elephants are living their best lives! They are in an atmosphere of peace and relaxation, free to do things on their terms in a way. Only positive encouragement and loving care. The staff knows the elephant's individual personalities and are passionate about them.

I was chosen as a volunteer to participate in their Volunteer Day and had an exciting and fulfilling experience contributing my time and efforts to this charity, which I have supported for over two decades.

It was an incredible feeling to be on the property where my donations were being utilized. The day was truly wonderful as I, along with a small group of others, came together to assist with the needs of the elephants. I particularly enjoyed picking pears in the orchard and making enrichment toys with hay and tires for the elephants.

I had full access to ask any questions about the organization and felt that the staff at the Sanctuary were dedicated to educating volunteers and providing the best environment for these magnificent creatures.

In June of 2024 I was invited to Volunteer Day at The Elephant Sanctuary. The visit far exceeded my expectations. It wasn’t a visit where we were just escorted around and shown some of the memorable features of The Sanctuary. Helping with some of the everyday chores (weeding, painting, cleaning a hay trailer, clipping bamboo) enabled us to see the day to day operation of what it takes to house and care for these majestic creatures.
I can honestly say, although the elephants there were unlucky (circus performers or in zoos) until they landed at The Sanctuary…they are very lucky now! There is so much space for the elephants to roam and explore. They have the companionship of other elephants, and their wonderful human caregivers. Their barns are spacious and clean and well kept. They are treated with the respect and attention that they deserve…and many didn’t get in their “before” life.
Although we did see some of the Sanctuary elephants, we were kept at a safe distance both for ourselves and the elephants. We learned not only about the Sanctuary’s work to further the understanding of elephant behavior, but also of their global connections with other elephant sanctuaries and the study of elephants in the wild.
Overall, a definite 5 star experience for a 5 star nonprofit!

I found out about The Elephant Sanctuary back when I was ten (currently 21), and I have been consistently impressed and amazed with the work they do. They're dedicated both to the care of elephants within the sanctuary itself as well as elephants as a whole, doing a lot of work to educate the public about these wonderful animals and how to protect them. I've worked with them in setting up fundraisers and webinars during middle and high school as well as an information booth in college, and each time I have been given a ton of support and resources. I've also had the fortune to participate in a few volunteer days down at The Elephant Sanctuary itself in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and they have been some of the happiest experiences of my life. They clearly explain how the work you are doing helps The Elephant Sanctuary, educate you about The Sanctuary's mission and current happenings, and pace the actual work (which can be tough but is extremely rewarding) really well. The people themselves have been incredibly kind and are absolutely passionate about caring for and protecting elephants. I'm really grateful I've gotten to know The Elephant Sanctuary.

This is a TOP NOTCH organization. It was a very well-oiled machine and the elephants are clearly cared for, loved and nurtured. The staff was informative and gave us lots of insight into the day-to-day care of the elephants.

I've been a donor for 12 years, but this year was the first time I was able to volunteer on-site to help maintain the Sanctuary and prepare enrichment toys for the elephants. It was a wonderful chance to see, up close, how well treated these elegant beasts are treated and taken care of and loved on a property that is designed for wonderful healthcare, companionship, and to allow the elephants to live out their best lives in beautiful surroundings. We moved bales of hay, cut down and covered up banana plants that had faltered after the first frost, cut down bamboo stalks for the elephants' enjoyment, and made those toys. It was a great day - rewarding, fulfilling, and a super way to see how well my donations are being used. And we also got a chance to meet and work side-by-side with several Sanctuary staff who, to a person, were warm, engaging, interested, interesting, and clearly in love with their jobs.

This fabulous facility has an outstanding volunteer program. The mission of the sanctuary is stated clearly, the staff are passionate about their work, the educational opportunity is unique, and the work was fun and felt meaningful.

The Elephant Sanctuary is an amazing place for the elephants to live out their lives in peace. I have been following the Sanctuary for years. Each YouTube video update I watch, I feel so many emotions. The devotion the Caretakers give to each and every elephant is very apparent by the body language and the silly actions by the animals. I even had the opportunity to attend volunteer day several years ago. It was my best weekend of my life! The commitment for the elephant's health and safety is the number one priority for the Sanctuary.

The Elephant Sanctuary under-promised, and over-delivered. I've not had this much fun doing manual labor... ever! Work included moving hay bales, creating "enrichment activities", cleaning fence row, and cutting and storing bamboo. Time was also spent educating us on the history of the nonprofit and on the details of the extensive care taken to ensure these elephants live a peaceful, elephant life. My heart is full! I will volunteer again!

My husband and I have been donating to the Elephant Sanctuary in TN for some time now because they do an incredible job offering these amazingly intelligent beings a safe place to live out their years. Not only do they tend to all the gentle giants in their care, the sanctuary also educates the public as well. And, they offer assistance to other countries around the globe who are trying to do the right thing by their captive elephants. Elephants deserve their freedom and their God-Given right to live a natural life the way that Mother Nature intended them to do so. A life free from human cruelty. Please continue to support all elephant sanctuaries in any way that you can.

This charity is well managed with caring and skilled employees. The love they give elephants who have been mistreated is outstanding. It is a plus that they don't permit visitors inside the compound but have alternate ways for them to view the elephants. This is definitely a top charity!

I have been supporting the Elephant Sanctuary for many years and have always felt confident that my financial support is used wisely to help provide these magnificent animals with the care and food that they need. Elephants require a lot of food and a lot of space and it brings me joy that they can live a life closer to what they should have had,
instead of the life of confinement and suffering that they endured. Thank you ES of Tennessee!

After just donating $100 to The Elephant Sanctuary, this review I wrote has been marked as "spam" and not posted. I can only say again, this is an outstanding organization and is doing an amazing job of conserving and protecting elephants. They provide a much needed habitat for these magnificent creatures and try to make their lives as natural as possible and enable them to have the social interactions with other elephants that is so important to elephant well being. They are even building a special habitat for the bull elephants. I encourage everyone to be aware of the plight of elephants in the world today and to donate whatever you can whenever you can, for them. THIS IS NOT SPAM!!!!!

The Elephant Sanctuary staff take such great care of each elephant in the sanctuary. They attend to each elephant as a unique individual with regard to each elephant’s physical needs, their individual personalities and social interactions with other elephants in the sanctuary.
It is a joy to read the newsletters they send regularly to donors. They also provide live video feed to watch the elephants in their habitats.
It is heartwarming to know that each elephant is cared for so well and so respectfully.

This is a wonderful charity. Everyone there is dedicated to caring g for the elephants. I am a proud supporter of The Elephant Sanctuary.

We have donated to this organization for years and feel they are establishing a new standard for animal care and study. We love the updates the staff provide which makes the experience feel as though we are visiting the sanctuary with each new issue of their excellent Trunklines publication.

We hope The Elephant Sanctuary's model can be exported to other animals and locations. If so, we may be able to utilize large our country's huge tracts of land to help address issues that our interest in earth's creatures have generated and avoid future issues as well.

They do great work, and years of interactions have all been positive.

They are providing top-notch, professional, and compassionate care for these fabulous animals, based on each one’s personal needs. They keep the public and their many avid and caring followers up-to date on new developments and projects. There are many fundraising and learning events for people to engage with. They collaborate with other agencies and zoos with the goal of enhancing and enriching the lives of our elephant friends. I love the Elephant Sanctuary!

I was among the many people who fought for the release or Nosey to The Elephant Sanctuary when she was rescued from her cruel owners and I have followed The Elephant Sanctuary with their continuous care and compassion for the elephants for years. I admire their dedication and hard work they do in providing a safe and peaceful environment for their elephants. They genuinely love their elephants and their care for them shows in all they do. I am thankful for The Elephant Sanctuary that the elephants have a peaceful place after all the torture they have gone through in their lives.

Absolutely lovely caregivers who really care about the elephant's well-being!

I very much appreciate that it's a true sanctuary where elephants get to live a full life without being used as a tourist attraction. I also appreciate how they phrase what a size of a donation can do. Finally, they are good at communicating updates at the facility and with the elephants.

This is hands down one of the most impressive organizations I have ever had the joy of learning about or working with. The commitment to providing their elephants with an environment that is as holistic and wilderness-like as possible clearly runs deep. It's uplifting to know there is something so beautiful quietly taking place in the middle of the country just because a group of people realize it's the right thing and are willing to dedicate their lives to it. If you're an animal lover or conservationist, I can't think of a better place to support.

We volunteered for a day of service at the Elephant Sanctuary, selected through a lottery. We felt extremely blessed to have been chosen for this volunteer day . The team who led our volunteer group were so generous with their time and planned an extraordinary experience that captured the breadth of their responsibilities as care takers of the elephants and took us on a journey throughout the sanctuary. It immediately was apparent how much the Sanctuary staff care about these beautiful elephants. We feel that we have a much better understanding of the elephants, their stories, their very diverse needs, and how carefully the staff meets these needs. This was a fantastic day and we will share how important it is for us and others to support the work of the Elephant Sanctuary.

I spent a day volunteering at the Sanctuary in May 2023. The Sanctuary is an amazing place where the elephants are cared for by experts. I cannot say enough about what a great organization this is.

This beautiful area southwest of Nashville is home to a fluctuating number of older elephants who have had hard lives in circuses or zoos. They are taken care of by a devoted staff of knowledgeable caregivers and vets and have hundred of acres of beautiful green forest to roam and browse. It’s like heaven on earth for these gentle creatures who’ve suffered so much at the hands of humans.

I've donated to the Elephant Sanctuary for well over 10 years now. During that time, I have been able to volunteer there 3 different times. Each time I am able to see how the donations are used. The care the elephants receive is outstanding. The caregivers are so knowledgeable about the ones in their care and love to discuss the elephants' various personalities, likes, dislikes, and diets.
The Sanctuary also partners with other elephant sanctuaries and shares the knowledge they have acquired.
The future projects they have planned, will make this Sanctuary even better. As more elephants age, there is a need for places like this. They are also working with zoos to tackle the issue of how to care for the elephants in their care and enrich their environment.

I recently had the opportunity to volunteer with The Elephant Sanctuary (TES). I must say, it was an excellent experience. From start to finish, the entire process was well-organized, and the staff and other volunteers were incredibly welcoming.
When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by a friendly staff member who gave us a brief orientation and introduced me to the other volunteers. Everyone was excited to be there and eager to get to work, which created a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Throughout the day, we were given a variety of tasks to complete. The staff and other volunteers were always available to answer my questions and provide guidance, which made me feel supported and appreciated. At the end of the day, I left feeling fulfilled and grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with such a wonderful organization. I would highly recommend this volunteer experience to anyone looking to make a difference and to meet some amazing people along the way.

We volunteered at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. It was a workday; however we learned so much about the elephants and even saw eight of them! One of the best days ever!

This was a fantastic experience that far exceeded our expectations! In addition to getting to help with "elephant-y" tasks, we had the opportunity to visit the grounds and observe the elephants in their environment. The educational aspect was outstanding - Laura and Summer were amazing teachers and ambassadors. Highly recommend.

The work they are doing to make sure these elephants are cared for and remain healthy is so important.

Elephant Sanctuary's vision of allowing elephants to live "freely" without worrying about entertaining humans in order to survive or not to be tortured really inspired and touched me. Reading their newsletters put a smile on my face. Checking on the website to see how my adopted elephant, Sissy, is doing motivates me to work hard to continue supporting the organization.
As an elephant-lover, I know we need more people and organizations like this one all around the world to save these beautiful, gentle, kind yet deeply-suffered creatures, and we could not have achieved this any bit if it were not for any of the staff at Elephant Sanctuary's contributions and hard work.
Again, thank you very much! This world is more beautiful with elephants.

I don't have an experience with the Elephant Sanctuary but I have visited the center in downtown Hohenwald, TN. I love what they are doing for these amazing elephants. The elephants are able to live a peaceful life at the sanctuary and be well taken care of there. Outside of being in their native habitat, the sanctuary is a wonderful place for these wonderful, majestic animals.

The wonderful work these people do for one of God's most gentle creatures is something everyone of them should be proud of. I am truly thankful for the work they do and for the small part I'm allowed to play through monthly giving.

"The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee" is an, superb, sanctuary for, abused, elephants from, consumptive, exploitative, enterprises like circuses, zoos, and, traveling, shows. The, huge, acreage has a variety of terrain, and, water, features such as lakes, trees, and hills which give the elephants variety for exploring and grazing. The habitats are, very, similar to their, natural, habitats in Africa and Asia. Most importantly, the sanctuary's , first, priority is the elephants' welfare, so, they are not disturbed by, any, public viewing! They have the freedom to come, and, go, as they please, and, especially, to have, other, elephants for companionship. It is a, dedicated, species- appropriate sanctuary with, excellent, veterinary care, and, doting, care-givers. In addition, the elephants are given, daily, enrichment to give them mental, and physiological stimulation.

This organization is excellent at highlighting the life of elephants in a natural surrounding. They send interesting reports and videos. Their requests for funds are not overbearing. I particularly appreciate that they do not telephone donors. They do a great job with taking care of elephants, I only wish they had more space and resources to accommodate more elephants

I have been donating to the Elephant Sanctuary since its inception. The elephants are truly loved and the care exceeds expectations. You are also my charity on my Amazon Smile account. Thank you for all you do for these majestic creatures that God made.

A friend told me about the Elephant Sanctuary and I was delighted to learn
about it . That remarkable elephant Shirley and her incredible story was all
I needed to become a donor. Shirley died, but her lessons of endurance and
resilience lived on in me. Since then, it has been a privilege to learn about the
various elephants, their activities, their friendships with the other elephants,
their adaptability, etc. This is a great non-profit, and worthy of your attention.

Lynn Seiller, Louisville, Ky

I love the care that is given to the elephants. They have always been one of my favorite animals
and I am grateful that there are places like the Sanctuary to help live out their lives in peace.

The elephants get to live a good life there even though they are sort of in captivity. Many of them have been rescued from zoos and poor conditions. Elephants need a large living space and The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee provides it. Big thanks!

To take on the care of Elephants is an enormous task and everyone involved in the care of these wonderful animals is a hero.

I have adopted many elephants and have given them as gifts. From wedding gifts, bday gifts, holiday gifts. So much fun to have this wonderful organization helping the elephants. And an added bonus web cams to watch your adopted elephant. I incorporate this into homeschooling for my son.

Amazing Care of Elephants in need...a true Sanctuary...Always sharing the journey of their Elephants...even though there is no public view or access...we can see they are so Happy in this Natural Habitat in middle Tennessee!

I am a long time supporter of the Elephant Sanctuary because they give Elephants the life they should have had. They have huge areas with ponds, trees, mud holes and trails they can walk and explore. The Ele's are also given first class medical care and nutrition. I also love that the public cannot interact with the Elephants. They are left to establish friendships, wander as they wish and generally behave like the highly intelligent beings they are. It's wonderful to see formerly abused Elephants like Nosey at the Sanctuary where they are safe.

From the first time I saw the excellently produced, touching NPR documentary on the start of The Elephant Sanctuary, in Hohenwald, TN, through all its decades of dedicated hard work in service of providing comfort, health, and dignity to abused, captive elephants, along with its ongoing intelligent, professional, and endearing outreach to supporters and general public, I have been in awe of this successful animal rescue and educational organization. I wish every group, political or otherwise, were as compassionate and competent, smart with a good heart, as TES.

This is a TRUE Sanctuary! They do not allow tourists to come near the elephants or take selfies with elephants, etc. I have supported this organization for many years, and The Elephant Sanctuary truly cares about and takes care of their elephants. I love it that they have an ele-cam, and that they give them fruit popsicles in summer and pumpkins in the fall, as well as Christmas and Birthday edible treats! I have read their newsletter for years, and I love to hear how an elephant is healing physically and emotionally after being rescued and brought to the sanctuary. Also, I love to read about the relationships between the elephants!

I applaud the Elephant Sanctuary in TN. for all they do to educate the public on the plight of wild and captive elephants. Their efforts to provide a permanent home for former retired circus and zoo elephants is stellar. The elephants are provided with veterinary care, healthy diets, enrichment, companionship, acres of land to roam, and the freedom to do what they want to do when they want to do it. My admiration and respect for The Elephant Sanctuary is immense not only for the great life they provide for these magnificent and intelligent creatures, but because of their affiliations with other respectable organizations involved in elephant research and conservation.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee has been a favorite charity of mine for over 25 years! A few years ago, I became an Eleambassador for them. That means I am training to teach all age groups about the Sanctuary, about the elephants' history and life stories, about the 3 species of elephants in the world, and about the incredible abilities of elephants (a keystone species). I also raise money for the Sanctuary and have been for years because I know where the money goes. Three years ago (before covid), I and many other Eleambassadors spent a special weekend in Hohenwald to get a first hand look at the caretakers' work, at the elephants themselves, and the education center. Several schools up here in Massachusetts have welcomed the Sanctuary's virtual classes into their own classrooms. It's truly the premier Sanctuary in the country! If I were more computer savvy, I would share photos.

Last year my daughter adopted daughter adopted one of the Asian Elephants, Debbie, for me for Christmas. I love elephants, and as sad as I am that I cannot go down to the sanctuary to see Debbie, I am very happy and impressed that they do not allow them to have contact with the outside world. They have the cams that allow us to watch the elephants, and they put information and updates regularly on their Facebook page. They work very hard to inform the public about the African and Asian Elephants.

This is just a phenomenal organization. Not only do the hands-on caregivers really care for these great animals, but there is a great group of support workers-maintenance, electricians, mechanics, etc.-that go out of their way to make every day the best possible for these elephants! They maintain an AZA rating (the same way the best zoos do), so the elephants can live their best lives in the safest and healthiest way.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the absolute best model for an Elephant Sanctuary. In the Sanctuary abused elephants get a chance of the better life they deserve. Additionally, they educate the public about the suffering of these wonderful animals. We are extremely proud to be a part of the Elephant Sanctuary family.

I have been following the Elephant Sanctuary since it's inception. To see the compassion and care given and to read about the comebacks these beauties have made from prisoners with no hope of recovery to restraint free, joyful interacting herds is magical. It brings much love to my soul to know that there is humanity out there doing good things every day year after year. These Elephants deserve the best. The Elephant Sanctuary is top notch for fundraising, keeping the public interacting, and education for future generations to learn to care about other creatures and the planet around them.

I MAKE A SMALL MONTHLY DONATION BECAUSE I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL INNOCENT CREATURES! THEY DESERVE TO BE FREE AND HAPPY TO LIVE OUT THE REST OF THIER LIVES AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE.

Elephants are amazing creatures and this group does great work. Everything is about the elephants and giving them a wonderful life. Love this group. ❤️

The Elephant Sanctuary Tennessee is a model for true elephant sanctuaries. Expert, individualized care is provided for formerly abused and neglected elephants. Their body, mind and spirits are healed, and they live in autonomy The expansive grounds surrounded by tall pines is peaceful and serene. The Discovery Center Is excellent educating the public about the plight of elephants and provides live cams to actually watch the elephants without disturbing them. I have volunteered at EST, and I was so impressed with their caring and expert staff, andI proudly support them in my home state of Tennessee.

No greater calling than to take circus or or maltreated elephants and give them life free of rules, tricks, imprisonment and give them a free to do as they wish life. Free to be the elephants they are.An elephants dream come true.

I was fortunate tospent a day inside the sanctuary, volunteering. It was one of the most rewarding days I’ve ever had. Hard work, but every drop of sweat was worth gold. This sanctuary is truly about the care and full lives of each elephant. It’s not open to the public for that reason…to allow these magnificent animals peace and dignity in an environment free of being on display. The employees who work there caring for the elephants, respect and protect both the elephants and their habitat, while striving to educate the public. The Elephant Sanctuary is, in my opinion, the best sanctuary in the country, and should be the model for all animal sanctuaries.

The Elephant Sanctuary cares for the mistreated through rescue and providing safety, medical care , a home, and companionship. Elephants are magnificent animals. Elephants bond strongly with their family units. Thank goodness for these people who rescue and protect them. Education provided is important to teach people about Elephants.

Having these gentle giants in a sanctuary is the best place for them, besides being in the wild. This nonprofit is going above and beyond to protect and provide for the elephants.

I am treated with updates in my favorite elephants they have saved. I watch them enjoy birthday cakes, treats for other holidays. They treat these animals that have suffered at the hands of men. Can they seem “happy” or is that me watching them in a natural environment? Every frozen treat makes me think, yes, they are excited, happy and feel the love the care givers to them. Thank goodness for them all.

This organization protects elephants by not allowing them to be exploited. You can’t go there to be entertained by seeing the elephants. They have “elecams” so you can watch the elephants from afar without disturbing their lives. This is a group who are devoted to their mission.

The most wonderful thing about the sanctuary is that the public is not allowed to come to watch our girls! They are roaming free and living their best life!

I’ve been a big supporter of the Elephant Sanctuary in Howenwald, Tennessee for some time now. Shirley was my favorite elephant prior to her passing. The elephants they take in have lived a life of isolation, some neglected, and some treated unkindly by their owners. They deserve to live their lives free of cement walls and bull hooks. The Elephant Sanctuary gives the elephants freedom, food, medical care and beautiful land to roam freely. Nothing is forced on them. They are completely free. Imagine that. Thank-you Elephant Sanctuary, caregivers and volunteers!

Elephants ������ loving cared for, being wild like when they were born. Each one with an amazing story ❤️. Beautiful in every step.

This is an outstanding elephant rescue! Each and every elephant in their sanctuary is thriving.

I grew up visiting and having pictures made with Bunny at Mesker Zoo in near town Evansville, Ind. I was so excited for her when she became accepted at the Elephant Sanctuary. We watched her relocation on the evening news. It wasn’t long before we got to go on line and see them free and happy in this wonderful place. Then, for my birthday every year my oldest daughter ,who also enjoyed news about Bunny, began donating ‘ feed Bunny for the day’ gift. So every year I got notice that she was fed in my name on my birthday. When she passed I knew she had spent the last few years of her life so happy. Thank you Elephant Sanctuary.

I’m so impressed with the work The Elephant Sanctuary does to give these elephants a good home. They have a beautiful environment to live in, wonderful caretakers, and people dedicated to making sure they have the best life possible.

My wife is a bigger supporter of Elephants across the world. The work done here in Tennessee is some of the best. Thank you for all you do foe these gentle guants.

Compassionate, educated and experienced caregivers for these amazing creatures.

I love this sanctuary for Elephants. It is remarkable that such a place exists in the USA but I am proud that it does. The stories of the elephants touch my heart, so happy to support them.

The Elephant Sanctuary is the place where retired elephants go to live as elephants should live. Second only to that fact is that it is not open to the public. This is a place that cares for, protects and treats these magnificent creatures respectfully. I have been lucky enough to volunteer there and I have the utmost respect for the keepers, the medical team, the administration and the donors who help with the upkeep! Love this place!

a sincere thank you to everyone involved in providing a safe and happy home for these beautiful aliens. i love the elephant sanctuary

I have witnessed several elephants get rescued from various poor "living conditions " and brought to this sanctuary. Watching these magnificent creatures experience freedom, ( some who have never been outside of a concrete pit) is the most amazing thing to watch. They grow emotionally, make new friends, and get to live out the remainder of their lives like an elephant should..FREE...or at least as close to it as possible. Watching them interact with other elephants, some for the first time in decades, is the most heartwarming thing one could see. EST is amazing. Their staff is incredible. What stands out for me is that the public isn't allowed. They are there to enjoy life to the fullest...no longer on display.

I have followed them for years. Thankful they can give a second life to these creatures who gave up so many years in service. Love seeing the elephants interact freely and experience enjoyment of life without Care or stress. The staff obviously give great thought to these wonderful animals and their pleasures of life!

I have supported this sanctuary for many years, the care they provide for these animals is out of this world! One of my favorite things is to watch the Ele-Cams around the sanctuary and catch glimpses of the elephants roaming and having a wonderful time exploring their habitat. I will continue to provide support for these amazing animals and the fantastic caregiving staff here. Keep up the fantastic work team!

Not only does the Elephant Sanctuary offer the best care and love for elephants, they also partner with other organizations around the world that meet their high standards of care. They truly set the example for showing kindness and respect to the environment and all living creatures that inhabit it. The organization is very transparent in how donations are used and every staff member I had the privilege to meet blew me away with their knowledge, but everyone also demonstrated dedication to integrity and excellence which is rare in my experience. I really appreciated how patient everyone was in answering the many questions thrown their way and the passion behind providing an excellent place of refuge for elephants The elephant sanctuary truly is a sanctuary.

I love what the elephant sanctuary does. They have such a beautiful area that can be viewed remotely with the elephant cams and so many wonderful activities that keep the elephants interested and active. The gift shop on the website is great for gear showing support of the sanctuary.

I love the Elephant Sanctuary and the stories it tells about their rescued elephants, most of whom have endured hideous trauma for the sake of human entertainment. Videos indicate how their twilight lives have improved thanks to Sanctuary care. I have been a donor for many years and plan on continuing in the future.

My dear friend Jill brought the sanctuary to my notice about 15 years ago. She worked at the sanctuary and I visited her several times in Hohenwald. Even though we could not interact directly with the elephants (and rightly so) I began to share her interest in these beautiful creatures and what they had endured at the hands of their captors. Jill died unexpectedly a few years ago, so I make a donation to the sanctuary in her memory on her birthday.

As an animal lover and active supporter of a variety of organizations designed to promote the well being of animals, supporting the Elephant Sanctuary is one of the absolute most fulfilling things I have encountered. They do an incredible job passing on stories and keeping supporters engaged with the animals, while leaving them completely free from the 'busyness' of people in their remote and peaceful location. The care they give these beautiful animals is incredible, and I wear their shirt proudly and tell others of their great work. This is an A+ organization that deserves the widespread support they've so richly earned.

I was under 10 whenI saw my first live elephant. A small group passed through our town with rides shows and one elephant to give short rides. As I got older I realized how unfair and cruel it was. When I heard about the Elephant Sanctuary I was so happy. I follow their post, signed up for emails and contribute to fund raisers. I love how they treat the elephants make their last years as they were meant to be, roaming large areas, eating good food, soaking in ponds and receiving medical care and a great staff caring for them. My heart runneth over watching videos of a new elephant at the sanctuary as they hear a elephant they recognize, and the reunion between them. Thank you all for everything you do.

I truly enjoy and Love elephants and love supporting the Elephant Sanctuary. I appreciate all the caregivers who are caring for the elephants. The elephants are free and safe at the sanctuary. The elephant shirts are amazing and I have purchased many shirts and items and looking forward to purchasing more from The Elephant Sanctuary online store. Every purchase I make through Amazon Smile, I make sure a percentage goes to The Elephant Sanctuary. Thank you Elephant Sanctuary for doing what you All are doing!! You're Awesome and God Bless You All and the Wonderful and Amazing Elephants!! ❤

Been a many year supporter of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. They are wonderful! There are so few left on our planet of these wonderful, social, intelligent creatures. Thank goodness for the amazing people who care enough to devote their lives to caring for elephants!

The Elephant Sanctuary is an incredible organization doing incredible work. And they do an outstanding job.

I have been following TES on social media and via their email newsletters for years. I cannot say enough good things about the facility... the way they give the most natural freedom to elephants who were alone and abused for so long is beautiful! I fully enjoy watching the resident elephants on the elecams living their best life! When bills permit, I have sent donations to TES for the care of their elephants as well as in memorial for my favorite elephant, Shirley, after her passing.

My mom has loved elephants for as long as I can remember. Each year she would collect elephant figurines, stuffed animals, home decor ... anything you could think of! When my parents moved a few years ago, my mom decided it was time to downsize her elephant collection. Instead of purchasing elephant "stuff" for her for Christmas I decided to adopt and actual elephant for her! I was so excited to see the amazing work being done at the Elephant Sanctuary. We enjoy reading the monthly news letters and watching the videos of the elephants, and will continue our gift donations to this enriching organization.

As some one who has been though a lot in my life. I fell in love with sissy story and had to go and adopted her. I am so grateful that these people are willing to give elephants a second chance at being loved. It melts my heart

We're living in a time where millions of species are vanishing before our eyes.
Sadly we are the one's most responsible. I don't ever want to imagine a world without elephants and thankfully the Elephant Sanctuary is doing more than their part. I have a short bucket list and visiting the elephants and sanctuary in Tennessee is way high up in priority. May these majestic beings live on forever.

So many people overlook elephants, but The Elephant Sanctuary goes above and beyond caring for these Gentle Giants, ofttimes in incredibly intimate ways, so they can be healed physically and mentally from their lifelong abuse, and live free and happy as elephants. I donate out of my love for elephants, and I donate to The Elephant Sanctuary out of my respect for everything they stand for. Every purchase I make through Amazon Smile (and I purchase on Amazon Smile A LOT!) remits a percentage to The Elephant Sanctuary. If I wasn't such an old woman, I would love to take the trip to volunteer there, but alas those days are over for me. I pray God will continue to bless the Sanctuary, the workers, the volunteers and the community in their noble, loving and ongoing commitment.

I have donated to this charity for many many years. It does wonderful work for the elephants. They are inspiring in what they do.

The Elephant Sanctuary is an incredible organization. As elephant lovers, we were delighted to participate in the volunteer activities after years of donating to support their operations. The educational outreach, environmental stewardship, and community leadership help them stand out in this field. Their mission to care for elephants, both retired from captivity and surviving in the wild, is inspiring and on full display every single day. We are proud to have been a small piece in this effort and to house this outstanding group in Tennessee.

This is the second time my family and I have traveled from Michigan to help work at the Elephant Sanctuary and it remains one of the best volunteer experiences I've ever had. The staff there are prepared, organized, helpful, friendly and great to work with. There are a variety of projects to work on, from light work to heavier, always with adequate breaks and everything kept safe for people. It is clear the staff at the Elephant Sanctuary really cares about the elephants, what they do and the volunteers that come to help out. It is a great organization and if I could give more than five stars I absolutely would! Mike G.

This was my second time volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary and it was a wonderful experience. Everything was extremely organized and explained in detail The day went by very quickly. Volunteers were told all of the ways their work helped the organization and at the end of the day, you definitely felt like you had helped out. I would highly recommend volunteering with this organization. They are extremely professional and do very important work in caring for the elephants and educating people about the problems with elephants in captivity as well as the threats they face in the wild. Thank you for another great volunteer experience.

My husband and I volunteered with The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in August. It was a really cool and unique experience. All of the staff were very nice, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I could tell it was a peaceful place for the elephants to be. Their barns were immaculate, and they have so much space there to roam and just be an elephant. I hope the sanctuary continues to do great work for many years to come.

I volunteered at the Sanctuary several weeks ago and wish I could go back to contribute to its beautiful mission every weekend! From the moment the day began at the Discovery Center downtown, I was impressed by the transparency of the Sanctuary staff and their willingness to share knowledge about their experiences. What impressed me most was that being there to give of our time, they gave equally to us as volunteers, starting the day with a history lesson on the three distinct species of elephants and the ongoing threats they face. The Sanctuary is a wholesome place, where the well-being of their majestic ladies is the primary focus.

I'm only involved from afar, as a huge admirer of their videos and education, not to mention their primary business: sanctuary for beautiful sentient beings.

A long time supporter , that’s me ! The sanctuary has been a wonder to watch it grow. The personal stories of the elephants are engaging even the sadness of Bella. I have that book in my library and it makes me smile and cry. The Elecam was always a favorite with my junior high I LOVE ANIMALS CLUB.

I love the fact that I can SEE my contributions working through the elephant cams at the sanctuary. The Elephant Sanctuary does GREAT work. A truly unique and EFFECTIVE charity!!

My story, is reading the stories of each elephant. How their lives have changed so dramatically after joining the sanctuary. I couldn't imagine that such a wonderful place existed for these wonderful animals. Each one so unique and special. Thank you to all involved.

The Elephant Sanctuary is one of my favorite causes and family members often give donations in my name for holiday gifts. Their educational outreach and wonderful work taking care of animals with a history of abuse and neglect make them stand out.

The Elephant Sanctuary is a wonderful non-profit providing a huge natural habitat and all the care and love these magnificent animals need. And it is a true sanctuary. The elephants have no contact with any humans other than their caretakers. The public can view them by camera online but have no interaction with them.
The Elephant Sanctuary also has a center where they educate visitors about the animals, the care they need and how that is provided.
I believe in the Elephant Sanctuary so much that I joined in the campaign to get Dulary, an elephant at the Philadelphia Zoo, released to the sanctuary. Unfortunately, Dulary didn't have a lot of years at the sanctuary but I was so happy that she got to live as a free elephant with others of her own kind for those years she had left.
If you're in the area, please visit the sanctuary and learn how you too can help.

My heart breaks for captive elephants. I’m so deeply grateful for The Elephant Sanctuary for giving so many of them a place to finally have a somewhat normal life.

This organization has consistently and persistently looks out for the best interests and health care for animals formerly who performed for humans. They continue to advocate against circuses and performing shows for the sake of these gentle Giants.

I have been supporting the sanctuary with monthly donations for over ten years. I warms ones heart to see and read about all the help these contributions are doing for these magnificent creatures. I initially got involved when I became educated to my participation in this reckless slaughter due to my purchases of ivory jewelry and trinkets. Once enlightened, I donated all ivory in my possession to the sanctuary for their education program, and started supporting them with money!!! They do wonderful, much needed work!! Please donate..

The elephant sanctuary works hard to give the elephants they’ve rescued the opportunity to live as normal elephants. They provide and continue to monitor the health and well being of the elephants in their charge by providing mental stimulation as well as medical treatments as needed and they have a large area for the elephants to roam at will.
It makes my heart happy that there’s a place for these beautiful elephants to be as nature intended them to be!

i and many many others consider this organization the epitomy of an elephants sanctuary, bar none from anywhere in the world.

I’ve been supporting The Elephant Sanctuary for several years, ever since a loud and lying group of former circus trainers began a hateful campaign of misinformation on Facebook to undermine the sanctuary. I did my own research and quickly became all too aware of the torture, cruelty and abuse suffered by these magnificent creatures, especially in captivity. I researched the facts about the Elephant Sanctuary and then I committed to donating to them whenever I could. They are a professional knowledgeable, compassionate voice for elephants.

I have been donating to the Elephant Sanctuary for a number of years and following their progress in their communications. They seem to love their elephants and go to great lengths to take care of them and provide them with a comfortable and safe home in their declining years.

An elephant sanctuary. Where elephants are left to be elephants, not exhibits. Room to roam, ponds, trees, everything an elephant could want. The Elephant Sanctuary takes in older elephants that have spent their lives performing, living on hard surfaces, in chains, often alone, and lets them learn or relearn how to be an elephant.

This sanctuary in Tennessee for elephants is the next best thing to being in the wild. It's a wonderful retirement home for captive elephants. I wish all captive elephants could be sent here.

My wife and I love elephants. We are so thankful that there is a place for captive elephants to escape the bonds of captivity and live out their remaining time in a sanctuary that gives them freedom, care and love.
This place is the Elephant Sanctuary! We are also so thankful to the entire staff who devote their time and work so hard to care for these magnificent, intelligent animals We donate as often as we can.

Amazing organization that does great work for ������ ������

Our team's experience volunteering at the elephant sanctuary has been nothing but insightful, educational, and reflective. Every act of service was explained thoroughly in regards to how it improves the wellbeing of the elephants. All of the staffs were extremely helpful and dedicated in the mission and philosophy behind the elephant sanctuary and were thoughtful in guiding our volunteering group the entire time. Transparency behind the work that the sanctuary has also encouraged our team to ask questions to greater assist and extend the sanctuary's work beyond our day at the site. We were all honored to take part in such an important and valuable volunteering opportunity and suggest all to partake in it!

My wife and I participated in a volunteer day on 11/16/19. I've been a donor to the Sanctuary for a long time. Actually being there, seeing the animals and their facilities was awesome. These beautiful creatures, after years of living in terrible conditions, are receiving top notch care. It's inspiring that people can come together in a big way to preserve and protect nature's vanishing beauty.

One of the best volunteer experiences I've ever had! The staff is amazing & the facility is very impressive. There is no contact with the elephants which is the way is should be but we were fortunate enough to see several while I was there. I loved being able to see them just being elephants. My favorite activity was making enrichment items for them and watching them get to enjoy some of them.

I had an amazing experience volunteering here. I drove 8 hours to come to TN and it was so worth it. It was well organized. I thought there was a good balance of time between working on tasks and also having time to learn and hear from the staff about the facilities and stories of the elephants. They took the time to show us the sanctuary and answer all of our questions. It was great that they worked along side of us as well. They were very knowledgeable and really showed their dedication to putting the elephants needs first. I was so impressed how clean and well cared for the facilities and elephants were. It makes me very happy to know there is a place like this for elephants to go.

My honey and I came to TN from RI to volunteer for The Sanctuary after learning about it from a local, volunter-representative at a Christmas Fair in our town last year. We traveled in October 2019. The whole process from application to acceptance was handled professionally. The Staff was extremely knowledgeable and informative. We could sense the "love" they had for the elephants. The video presentation was informative. The reception center was well-laid out and provided a great "intro" to the day's events. We cleared the fence line, made enrichment toys, and got to see 5 of the elephants. Just knowing a day of our time made a difference in the lives of these precious elephants who are visibly happy and exceptionally well-cared for at The Elephant Sanctuary, was very rewarding. We are thankful for the experience and, ultimately, that this Sancutary exists. We'll be back in two years to do it again. Theresa O'Toole, Tim Clark

It makes my heart glad to know there are people and places out there that care for Elephants that have been through hell and back, to finally reach the Elephant Sanctuary. The staff was inviting and took time to answer our many questions. I was impressed with the cleanliness of the African Elephant barn we visited. The floors, steer spaces for each Elephant and equipment shone clean and free of dirt. Though unexpected, we did see three of the resident Elephants, which was a true gift! We were given important responsibilities to help make the Elephants lives better. We filled tires with hay or bamboo and then went out into the African Elephant encloser and hid hay and tree branches for the Elephants to root around, find and eat. The Elephant Sanctuary is a true gift to these magnificent animals and a gift to those of us fortunate enough to participate at the Sanctuary. Glorious day!

I have donated for a few years to this truly worthy sanctuary!

My husband and I have donated to this nonprofit for years. It is an absolutely wonderful sanctuary for retired circus and zoo elephants. I wish all elephants that have wrongly been used in entertainment could live in such a great sanctuary.

I recently had the pleasure of volunteering for a day at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN. As a regular donor, I have always been impressed with their mission and core values, but my experience being physically there to work with the staff on the actual property exceeded all expectations. The dedication, care, and heartfelt commitment to the health and happiness of these animals was heartwarming and profound. We were able to participate in several activities and I felt that we truly made a difference even though we were only there for one day. I was never so happy to be sweaty and dirty! It was truly a meaningful experience!

I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Elephant Sanctuary on June 29, 2019. The Discovery Center in Hohenwald, TN was the beginning of an exceptional day. This building is designed in a clean, family friendly, interactive and educational way. Todd Montgomery, Education & Volunteer Director, does an amazing job with presentations for the public, schools and our group of volunteers on the 29th. We spent the day doing manual labor type "chores", such as weeding at the main property, pruning trees at the Sanctuary, cutting vines off fences, making awesome elephant enrichment toys, (think Kong toys for elephants, with tires stuffed with hay and bamboo leaves), and much more.

The care, dedication and professionalism of all staff at this Elephant Sanctuary is absolutely five stars. Their heartfelt feeling for what they do shines while watching them work and in their connection with the elephants. It was a fantastic day.

Thank you all from your friends in Georgia!

I just volunteered for a day at the Hohenwald, TN Elephant Sanctuary. What a heartwarming experience. It was a hot, sweaty day of physical labor and I wish I could do it every week. The elephants are so well loved and cared for. They have so much room to roam and do whatever they want. After years of abuse and loneliness to have this freedom and companionship is just awesome. The workers we came into contact with were professional and knowledgeable. It’s all about the elephants and what they need and want. What an amazing place.

I recently had the opportunity to volunteer at the sanctuary after several years of being a member. I had already been impressed by their mission, education, and outreach materials, but what I saw in person blew me away! Every single person we met who worked for the Sanctuary was knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to share the mission. We learned about whole-elephant care, the education and advocacy work they do around the world, and how each elephant is treated as an individual, with the best possible care tailored to it. The sanctuary grounds themselves were beautiful and immaculate. The care staff truly love “their girls”. This is a true sanctuary for these noble beings that truly deserve it!

My daughter and I volunteered on 6/1/2019 and it was a wonderful day. We were impressed by the quality of the structures that housed "the girls" and the surroundings that they roamed. I've never seen such clean barns! The staff was professional yet warm and welcoming.
Most importantly, the sanctuary truly belongs to the elephants. They do as they please and any contact with people is totally voluntary, as it should be!

My daughter and I volunteered on 4/20/19. It was our first experience with the Elephant Sanctuary. We drove down from Wisconsin and had an amazing time! The visitor/education center in town is beautiful and the elephant grounds are spectacular. Through every step of the way, you can see and feel that everyone has the elephant's best interests in mind. The staff and volunteers are professional and the expectations are clearly communicated. I would highly recommend this nonprofit to anyone looking to better the lives of these precious elephants. I support the organization 100%. They are doing fantastic work! Thank you!

I volunteered on April 20, 2019 and it was an amazing experience. The facility was exactly as it stands to be, a safe haven and sanctuary for these amazing creatures. The staff was incredible and very knowledgeable giving us insight as to the daily care and treatment of the elephants. Each elephant has their own distinct personality as you can imagine and it was so interesting to hear about how each one acts and interacts in their daily life. I was one of ten volunteers that day, we mulched, painted, made enrichments for the elephants. It was an awarding experiencing knowing my little time there did some good for this non-profit and the elephants that live there. I traveled from Michigan and would do so again to help out. I came back home not only fulfilled that I had done a good deed, but with even more respect and admiration of this facility and the work they do to cherish and enable these wonderful elephants live out their remaining lives in peace.

Karin Kounelis
Kalamazoo, MI

I do not remember when or how I got involved with the Elephant Sanctuary except that I was so proud that this very amazing organization was in my state (Tennessee). Then one day about 4 years ago I got an e-mail about the volunteer days and I jumped on that response. And I won the lottery! I got to pull weeds, rake and pick up dead limbs all day. But the elephants were nearby and I got a few glimpses of them. The best part was putting the stories that Todd told us with each elephant and knowing that I had actually seen her; maybe from a distance but it was worth it.

I just did a birthday fundraiser on facebook
I hope you really di get all the cash. !

Serving as a volunteer at The Elephant Santuary was awesome. The elephants on site are so well cared for and have so much room to roam and to do what elephants do. We were put to work, painting, relocating items, snipping banana leaves for enrichment, pulling weeds and doing general clean-up. What a treat in that we were fortunate and able to spot some elephants throughout the day. TES Staff were so knowledgable and kind, sharing information and their stories with us.

If you are thinking of volunteering or donating to TES, just do it. You won't regret it!

A big Thank you to TES for the experience. You are in my heart forever.

The Elephant Sanctuary (TES) is an organization that truly works to do good, and does so very efficiently. I have volunteered and donated for over five years so I know this firsthand. Recently TES was rated the #1 charity in Tennessee with a 96.3% rating. It was found that 83.9% of donations are plowed right back into Sanctuary operations, because everything about elephants is big, including the cost of their care! Only 9.8% goes to administrative costs. This is a remarkable and sustained history that enables TES to provide a forever home and proper care to aging elephants whose lives were a litany of abuse and mistreatment. Help them help these gentle giants, because with the generosity of their donors this organization is able to fund advanced veterinarian care for aging elephants and use the knowledge gained to help other captive elephants as well. TES also helps educate children through its distance learning programs, and opened the Elephant Discovery Center to provide hands on self-guided exhibits, an outdoor classroom, and additional educational programming so future generations can learn about elephants. A very worthy and well run organization!

Out of all the volunteer work I've ever done, I cannot recall a better, more fulfilling experience than working at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee this past summer. Aside from just knowing we were helping a very worthwhile cause, there were other positive things about working with this group. Todd Montgomery and the other staff were super nice, extremely knowledgeable and very well organized/prepared for everyone, so there was no wasted time sitting around waiting or feeling like any of our time there was unnecessary. This is a very quality, first rate program to volunteer with and one which I am happy to have spent my time and effort on. Thank you, E.S. for a great and memorable experience and your continued good work!
Mike G.

This experience.was a dream come true for me, an elephant lover. There is no guarantee that you’ll see an elephant but you can be happy to know that this is a true sanctuary where the elephant’s needs come before people’s. I went in August of 2018, I was with 9 other people who loved elephants as much as me, what a pleasure! We all worked hard and had fun. I intend to continue to volunteer as often as they will have me. It was a true learning experience. Everyone was so nice. Bonus, we did see elephants! It was magnificent! They are so beautiful and seem to know we were there to help them. Love was definitely in the air!

We spent a day volunteering with the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. The communication prior to the visit was prompt and complete. The day itself was everything we hoped for and more (as we were lucky enough to actually see some of the elephants--they are clear that you are not guaranteed to see any elephants). The environment was very clean, the caregivers and volunteer guides answered all questions and explained a lot about how the sanctuary works.

My wife and I volunteered at the Elephant Sanctuary. During that experience we were able to work and visit with Sanctuary staff and tour parts of the Sanctuary. This opportunity confirmed (actually, exceeded) our initial positive perception of the organization, it's managament, it's goals and the dedication and expertise of the staff.

My husband and I spent a Saturday volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary and it was an incredible experience. We got to learn so much while helping out this wonderful organization who do so much to help not only elephants living within the sanctuary, but around the world through their research, etc. The day included helping with landscaping projects, cleanup, making enrichment for the elephants and more. The staff was wonderful and full of fun facts and anecdotes. We hope to have the opportunity to return and volunteer again!

I drove down from Michigan for one of the volunteer days and it was an amazing experience! I learned so much about the Sanctuary and their mission as well as many great facts about elephants, the impact we have on them, and what we need to do to conserve their habitat. I also learned the heartbreaking stories of a few of their retired circus elephant but it is great to know they are in excellent care, in their new home, in Tennessee. The volunteer day was particularly interesting to me because I am currently a Zoology major and it was great to be exposed to the wonderful ways they care for and enrich the elephants! The staff was very helpful with the information they provided for education and safety. They worked alongside the volunteers and made it a fun day for everyone.

The sanctuary is a caring, safe, and well-run facility offering retired elephants peace in their later years. While the site is not open to the public, and rightly so (the elephants are not meant to be on display in any way), the Discovery Center in Hohenwald provides education, and inspiration to all of us to become involved. When you learn that these ellies have big hearts, souls, and senses of humor, how can you not donate a little to ensure their species continues? View the elliecams to see these wonderful creatures go about their days. I am proud to say that I was a volunteer this past summer.

I started following and donating to The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee because my sister LOVES elephants. We became members, and decided to do a volunteer day together this summer. Everything about the Sanctuary far exceeded what I imagined it was, or could be. The volunteer program was very well organized, the staff was amazing, and the actual land/living conditions were breathtaking. Volunteering made us want to take a more active role in donating here.

My experiences volunteering with The Elephant Sanctuary have been outstanding. While it is hard work for the onsite visits, the elephants and their staff make it an extremely rewarding and remarkable experience. I am grateful to have had a chance to volunteer onsite on behalf of these wonderful animals and I hope to continue to do so. I have also enjoyed volunteering as an Elembassador. Here, I raise awareness about the needs of elephants in captivity and provide information about the Sanctuary. I feel fully supported by the Sanctuary staff. They provide online training, refresher courses, and will answer questions.
Thank you.

The volunteer experience at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee was AMAZING. To be able to support the work of this special place is something everybody who cares about elephants (or any creatures that are regularly exploited) should experience. It was so special to be able to contribute physically, directly supporting all that is done day in and day out to make these elephant's lives and home a safe and nurturing place. The staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about their work. The activities were engaging and everything was very well-managed (communication, timing, transportation, etc.). This is a very special place with very dedicated staff, and anybody who has the opportunity to volunteer should do it!

The dedication of this organization is absolutely amazing. I was honored to have the opportunity to participate in one of the volunteer days and can not even begin to describe the depth of consideration that is taken by the staff to care for the elephants who reside here. I was also very impressed by the discovery center and excited for the upcoming expansions. Thanks to the knowledgeable and kind staff, I learned a lot about elephants and the various roles of the sanctuary in their preservation.

So my experience as a volunteer for the sanctuary was wonderful. We spent time cutting the vines on the outside fence, cutting down bamboo leaves and creating treats for the elephants. I thought it was wonderful that one of the caregivers for two of the elephants spent the day with us. We were able to ask questions and hear stories from an inside perspective.

Todd was very informative and guided us safely throughout the day. The day was structured but we were not rushed. We had plenty of time for breaks, lunch and just enjoying the experience and taking it all in.

With or without a chance to see an elephant it was such a rewarding day from beginning to end. I would definitely do it again and highly recommend the experience.

I came upon the Elephant Sanctuary around the time of a great sadness in my life and there on 20/20, a television program, a film of Sissy was being shown, being brutalized. Due to the outrage of the injustice, Sissy was retired to TES. That is when I started to spend time, educating myself with captive elephants. How they behave, show affection and bond with each other or other species, specifically when they are in a habitat that allows them to be their elephant selves. They captivated my imagination and hope for the planet.

So my experience on October 21st this year was extremely meaningful and emotional. I enjoyed cutting the vines on the outside fence, enjoyed creating treats for the African elephants and really enjoyed the stories from the caregivers and staff, but the most awesome experience beyond what I cared to hope for was seeing the elephants themselves. Pure majesty and beauty. The beloved Sissy was out in the field when I first saw her and tears of joy and other unnamable emotions gushed out of me. It felt surreal and real all at once. I loved seeing all the elephants we crossed paths with ...Sissy was beautifully calm.

I can't thank Todd enough for surprising our group with the opportunity of looking out on five elephants within the Q habitat. Todd was very informative and guided us safely to our final destination, creating a memorable day for all involved. I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my life and I am eternally grateful for all who are involved caring for these magnificent animals.

My husband and I had the opportunity to visit the sanctuary as part of a volunteer day. We walked a portion of the people fence line to remove vines, and we made enrichment activities for the elephants in the African barn which was super clean, roomy, seemed to designed to be comfortable for the elephants when they want/need to be inside. We had the opportunity to meet staff and see where some of the elephants live. First, it is obvious that the staff sincerely cares about and for the elephants. Everything we saw inspired confidence that sanctuary staff is doing a wonderful job in taking care of elephants who for the most part had difficult lives prior to coming to the sanctuary. I like that these elephants no longer have to be on public display and that they have choice in how they want to spend their days. I also like the educational mission of the sanctuary and the transparency that the online elecams provide. It is wonderful to be able to see the elephants online dusting themselves, rolling in mud or co-mingling with deer and turkey.

It's amazing how respectful this sanctuary is of their elephants. You can tell they genuinely care about each and every one. Todd, and I'm sure many other workers, can identify any one of the elephants from such a far distance.

As a volunteer for the Elephant Sanctuary, I was overwhelmed by the dedication their staff has to give these elephants the most naturalistic home possible. Their mission is really not in exposing more people to elephants, but in providing elephants with a safe space, and educating people in the proper ways to protect these endangered animals.

I had the most incredible weekend volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary over my University's fall break. I learned so much about the characteristics, history and behaviors of the elephants and worked hard alongside my peers to help with the upkeep of the sanctuary. We trimmed vines along part of the perimeter of the grounds, made enrichment treats, and cleaned/organized the sanctuary office. THANK YOU to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee for giving us the chance to help out! I am overjoyed and feel so lucky to be able to volunteer and be able to see in person, how the caregivers take care of the elephants. It was a wonderfully rewarding experience, and something I'll hold close to my heart!

I just volunteered for the second time...the first time was 4 years ago.
It was a very rewarding experience helping TES staff to get some extra things done, being able to talk to them directly about the things they do, seeing a bit of the sanctuary grounds and how the elephants live, and my favorite part is that I got to do something for these wonderful animals.
It was also great to see the progress made in 4 years, the wonderful education/welcome center they are developing, and their dedication to elephant conservation and care.
I hope to volunteer again in the future.

I could not be more thrilled the the opportunities I've had to volunteer with the Elephant Sanctuary. The staff involved are just the best and work hard to provide a unique and fun experience for everybody. Their knowledge and passion for the elephants at the sanctuary and for educating the public on proper treatment of wildlife is incredible. I have learned so much working with them and will continue to advocate on behalf of the sanctuary in every way I can going forward. I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the sanctuary staff and the work they do!

Volunteer day at the elephant sanctuary is an unforgettable experience. We were able to clean up a lot of areas that sanctuary staff would otherwise not have the time to get to, and we were able to learn a lot more about the sanctuary and why it all matters. We were able to catch glimpses of the elephants from afar (though a viewing is not guaranteed), which helped to remind us all why we were there performing manual labor.

TES is truly an amazing place for elephants and humans alike to learn, rest, and be nurtured.

I had the opportunity to volunteer for a day at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN this past weekend. The experience was everything I had hoped for and then some. Our leader, Todd, and one of the caregivers who accompanied us for the day, Joseph, were very knowledgeable, patient and enthusiastic about their mission. To see the impressive grounds (and luckily for us all of its 10 residents) in person was nothing short of extraordinary! Our day started with an informative background of the sanctuary and the elephants that have been retired there, as well enlightenment on the plight of these animals both in captivity and the wild. Afterwards, we started on a list of various projects for the day, which included weeding and mulching the garden beds at the education center, clearing the perimeter fence from encroaching honeysuckle vines, picking banana leaves and making treats for the elephants. Todd took the time to explain how each activity contributed to the greater operation of the sanctuary which is indeed awe-inspiring. And hearing about each elephant's personality and behavioral quirks from the caregivers we encountered really showed their respect and dedication to these magnificent animals. I do hope I will one day get the chance to volunteer my time to this wonderful organization again. In short, it's good for the soul!

Molly Shasteen
(Nashville, TN)

My day of volunteering at The Elephant Sanctuary far exceeded any expectations that I'd had. I have been following and financially supporting the sanctuary for close to 20 years, so it was very interesting to see the operation in person. Every person that we encountered who worked at the sanctuary was very positive and clearly loved their jobs. And you can tell that lots and lots of hard work goes into keeping the sanctuary running smoothly.
The volunteer day was clearly planned and structured, but loose enough to easily accommodate bathroom, lunch and rest breaks. None of the tasks that we completed were too strenuous (weeding, making treats for the elephants) and it felt great to be able to make a little difference in the lives of the elephants.
And best of all: we were able to see all 10 resident elephants! I had prepared myself to not see any of them, so I'm still beyond thrilled that we were able to see them (some relatively close and some pretty far away) in such a free environment. It was an amazing, check-it-off-the-bucket-list kind of day!

Volunteering at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN was nothing short of a spiritual experience for me. I have been a supporter of the Sanctuary for several years, but actually being there and seeing what this organization does is impressive. The facilities are spotless. The grounds are beautifully kept. And all this is accomplished 100% through private donations. The staff we interacted with obviously love their jobs and love the elephants. The elephants look HAPPY and are allowed to just be elephants. The Elephant Sanctuary is a beautiful organization.

We started our day at the Elephant Sanctuary Discovery Center. We met Todd there and he gave us some background on the elephants and the sanctuary. We then went to the sanctuary where we weeded, made treats and enrichment items for the elephants. We were able to see five of the elephants at various times during the day. The staff was fantastic, they answered all our questions and were very informative. It was very obvious how much they care for these animals. Volunteering was a wonderful experience and I am so glad I was given the opportunity.

My husband and I recently had the incredible opportunity to volunteer for a day at the Elephant Sanctuary. We started off in downtown Hohenwald at the Discovery Center, which is a beautiful facility with lots of fun, educational exhibits. From here we went to the Sanctuary, where we cleaned up brush along some of the fences, and made enrichment devices for the elephants (which we got to see used later in the day!). The day was extremely well organized, and very informative. While it was hard work, we got quite a bit of time for education purposes - learning about the elephants and how the sanctuary is run. You can see that the staff here are very passionate about what they do, and only want the best for these elephants. Overall it was an incredible experience which I would participate in again in a heartbeat.

I was aware of this group since I live in the area, but am also gratified that they have the top rating from Charity Navigator for accountability, transparency, and financial management. They are also accredited by the Global Federatin of Animal Sanctuaries. Their primary mission is providing a caring, free-range environment for elephants who had lived lives of confinement or performing, and as such they are not open for public display or tours. They also perform a valuable educational mission about elephants and the threats to their survival both in captivity and in the wild.

For my Spring Break, a group of my fellow students and I helped out at the Elephant Sanctuary for a week. Every day was such a rewarding experience. The staff set aside time to get to know us and teach us more about elephants and what we can do to help them. Todd Montgomery was a perfect leader and, along with every member, it was evident he truly loved his job and cared about the elephants. So much work goes into creating the best possible home for the elephants. They work hard to keep it clean and in tiptop shape. I have absolutely no complaints!

This charity does amazing things for captive elephants that have had troubling past. Their organization is inspiring!

The Elephant Sanctuary is truly heaven on earth for these elephants. Being given the opportunity to do tasks to support their care is amazing. I was so sad when the day was over. The staff is so great. We had tasks to do that we could see would directly impact the girls which was so rewarding. If you have the opportunity to volunteer, you will be blessed. Seeing the girls was an added bonus and I will never forget it.

I fell in love at 6 years old with Alice, the first elephant I've ever met. Since the Elephant Sanctuary opened, I discovered a way to have that connection again, later in my life, by supporting this organization that offers a life home to retired zoo and circus elephants. The work and dedication the staff brings to enrich the lives and help "the girls" live out their days in rural Tennessee should be reconized and embraced for keeping the sanctuary a private place. Their outreach via the website and social media helps one be part of the elephants world and contribute to their well being and care. Support The Elephant Sanctuary today.

The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee is an absolutely amazing facility. The care and love for these beautiful creatures is evident in many ways from the 2700 kept acres they provide for these retired elephants to roam to the daily foot care routine. The elephants are free to be elephants again. They are no longer for the amusement of humans; therefore, there are no tours. As one of a few people chosen to volunteer for a day of work, I did see some of the elephants but from a distance and never for extended lengths of time. The staff does this to make sure that the elephants do not get anxious or feel they are on display again. It's a TRUE sanctuary run by people who most definitely understand, love, and care passionately for these once abused and ill treated beauties. They ensure that retirement is as blissful as possible. I wish more elephants were this lucky.

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a volunteer day at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (TES). On a beautiful October day my partner and I made our way to the Sanctuary’s Elephant Discovery Center, where we met up with the other volunteers and the Sanctuary’s Education Manager, Todd. We followed him to the grounds of TES, where we spent a thoroughly enjoyable day assisting in various tasks (painting, clearing brush, etc.). We had all been emailed in advance to notify us what activities we would be participating in and what items we needed to bring, so everyone was well prepared with water bottles, sunscreen, etc.
Having done volunteer work for other groups, I found this experience to be one of the best organized and enjoyable endeavors I have undertaken. Todd kept us well informed about the Sanctuary and its operation. In addition, we learned a great deal about elephants and the problems they face in captivity as well as in the wild. We had the opportunity to spend a gorgeous fall day in beautiful middle Tennessee and though we were warned there was no guarantee we would see elephants, we caught a glimpse or two of these majestic animals. All in all this was a fantastic opportunity I hope presents itself again. The Elephant Sanctuary is a very worthy cause that I was happy to volunteer for.

This is a private Sanctuary who allow visiting volunteers to participate in improving the property only 8 times a year. You have to sign up for a lottery and hope to be drawn for opportunity to help.

My experience was everything that I hoped for. It was made very special through the stories from Stephanie and Todd helped us understand through the day. We would ask a million questions and it help to reveal the true love this staff has for their elephant family. They know them all by name, history and behavior. They are awe struck on their families' improvements as they get introduce on how to be a free elephant. Some take moments, other take months, but the time does not matter, they all the time they need to be free.

Please image for the first 30 - 40 years of your life, you were confined, poked, prodded, and chained. You had to do things unnatural or get punished. Then finally one glorious day you are given the chance to move to the Elephant Sanctuary. You are still in disbelief.

OH MY.... First you can't believe the unfamiliar freedom and positive reward the humans give you. You have never felt this kind of love and friendship. Then you get to discover other female elephants who want to get to know you and be friends. Really, others like me who want to be my friend? I don't know how to act.

Heaven on earth. That is the best way to describe what might be going on inside the minds of the lucky ones who get to live the rest of their MANY years at the 2, 700 acre private sanctuary. NEVER again on display or having to perform for humans.

Just being an elephant. Doing elephant things. And having humans who care.

Peace

We were able to volunteer for an afternoon and it was so amazing to be put to work for such a good cause. Visiting the sanctuary is a unique experience and the volunteer experience makes me feel closer to this charity that is doing good for these elephants. I would highly recommend this experience and donating your time (and money) to this charity. It's a beautiful area and I feel lucky to have been able to go.

I volunteered at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN the summer of 2016, We traveled from Ohio and arrived ready to roll @ 8:00 am. We painted the stall of an African elephant named Sukari...a beautiful girl with long white tusks. We were informed she rubs her tusks on the bars frequently and therefore a paint job was needed. While we were painting we sneaked peeks at the 4 African elephants in their yard. They are magnificent animals! What an absolute joy to be a part of their world for one day :) After painting, we traveled to the Asian Barn and ate in a nice air conditioned lunchroom. More staff dropped by to answer any and all questions we had about these elephants and elephants in general. After lunch, we weeded grapevines growing into fencing. When complete, we traveled to the "Q" barn. Q for quarantine as some of the elephants have medical issues. There we witnessed the vast area in which they live. We saw 3 Asian elephants peacefully eating and sharing companionship with each other. For the first time in their lives, they can decide what they want to do! This is their retirement home. It was a privilege and honor to give back to these elephants who for years were abused and forced to live in substandard conditions either in circuses or zoos. It was an experience of a lifetime! I hope to return again soon. Judy Volkerding

I was very excited to be selected for a volunteer day at the Elephant Sanctuary, even though it meant working outside in the July heat for most of the day! I appreciated the opportunity to help in any way that I could (weeding and painting barn doors), and I thoroughly enjoyed my fellow volunteers. It was amazing just how far most of them had travelled to be there. Getting to see the Sanctuary in person was priceless for me. It hit home just how much devotion and hard work it must have taken to grow this place into what it is, which is nothing short of astounding!

I have been donating and volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, TN for many years. I have been privileged to participate on 4 separate occasions. Each and every time I learn something new about the elephants that the Sanctuary cares for and come away with a deeper sense of urgency to make others aware of the plight of elephants who are still in zoos and circuses in the U.S. as well as the world. The Elephant Sanctuary staff make us all feel special and a part of the mission to care for these elephants, whether we are pulling weeds, painting doors, clearing brush, etc. It is all for the greater good of the elephants to be allowed to be free and interact with each other in their natural environment. Kudos to the Elephant Sanctuary for 20 years of great work....here's to at least 20 more years.

I have been a supporter of The Elephant Sanctuary beginning the first year and have the honor of serving as a board member. We receive regular updates from CEO which includes detailed reports from caregivers about the elephants. These reports are profound evidence of the professional knowledge and respect and love the caregivers have for the elephants as individuals. In a perfect universe there would be no captive animals. In the world we inhabit my wish is that all captive animals would have an environment comparable to the sanctuary and would be respected and loved as the elephants at The Elephant Sanctuary.

As a member of The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee Board of Directors, I am enormously proud to be a part of this outstanding organization! TES is providing superb national leadership in the humane and scientifically sound care of captive elephants. Every time I meet with the caregivers, veterinarians, office staff and fellow Board members, I am reminded of what an outstanding team is working collaboratively to enhance the care of the elephants at TES.

TES is an extraordinarily challenging endeavor: acquiring the land, providing the strong protective fencing, building the barns, recruiting the care staff with both dedication and knowledge, creating the educational programs, developing relationships with the community and regulatory authorities, attracting skilled veterinarians and elephant husbandry leaders, among many others, as well as raising the funding to permit all this good work to happen.

To all this, the commitment of the CEO and staff is both passionate and exemplary. The "girls" thrive in this environment of dedicated caring and competence. They arrive often unwanted, ill, aging and physically compromised. They are renewed, have their medical needs attended to, are comfortable in their heated barns in inclement weather and find joy in exploring the forest and ponds when the sun shines - as it so often does in Hohenwald.

All is done with gentle persuasion; the elephants live in a free-choice environment. This takes great skill and understanding by the caregivers. In all, TES represents the highest standard for captive elephant care in America. This is a profound accomplishment. The welcome mat is out for further elephants to join our happy girls.

It's an honor to write a review for The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee since I have been affiliated with them for over 20 years as a founding member. What started as a small Mom and Pop operation with one elephant has evolved into a massive project with a 4.5 million dollar annual budget. They've rescued 27 elephants and are making room for dozens more.

The reason that this matters so much is that elephants are among the most profound creatures on earth. Their history in captivity is not pretty and the poaching of their tusks is an indescribable crime. Most people do not know of the intellectual wisdom of elephants. Their elaborate brains contain, like humans, VENs (Von Economo Neurons) which are specialized cells that relate to higher notions like empathy, intuition, communication and self-awareness. These neurons are unusual in the animal kingdom and help explain the complex and deeply sensitive nature of elephants. I am proud to say that TES is fulfilling its mission daily by protecting and housing these wonderful elephants and by teaching the world about their value to us all!

Being a volunteer at the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary was an enlightening experience that very few people get the chance to do. I learned so many things about each elephant and about animal rights. All the people I met during my time were so friendly and hard working. You could tell that every person had a passion to be there. I am thankful that I was able to have this educational experience and will tell others about the great things this sanctuary has to offer!

Keep up the amazing work!

After spending my week at The Elephant Sanctuary as an Alternative Break volunteer, I was blown away. When applying for the trip, I had no idea where the location would be, nor that I would be able to see such magnificent creatures as elephants. I am a Biology major, so animal conservation is something near and dear to me. This caused me to approach the opportunity very critically. However the staff's professionalism and their desire to educate others were astounding. It was also extremely satisfying and peaceful to see the elephants left to enjoy themselves and live out the rest of their days in peace. It was such a meaningful experience to volunteer for a more-than-worthy cause, and I plan to continue supporting TES and the wonderful work that they do.

The Elephant Sanctuary has the elephants welfare truly at heart. The sanctuary is truly "a sanctuary" allowing elephants to roam freely for acres at their own desire. The staff never makes an elephant do something that she is not interested in. Other than the veterinary care, they operate using a very hands off approach, making the sanctuary the most natural habitat possible for an animal who has been in captivity. The caregivers do not want the elephants to feel that human interaction is necessary, as some elephants have been scarred by humans in their past lives in circuses or zoos. I commend the Elephant Sanctuary for their practices. They proceed with caution with every interaction and keep both the elephant and the caregivers' safety a top priority. The Elephant Sanctuary understands the needs of an elephant and works hard to meet those needs every day. I could not imagine a more perfect place for an elephant to retire.

My group spent a week volunteering with the Elephant Sanctuary and it has been a pivotal experience in my life. With this extended amount of time and good weather we were able to see every single elephant on the property and had the pleasure of witnessing Sissy swimming! The volunteer work was not as direct as I had originally anticipated, but the tasks did vary which kept things interesting. Lastly, I most appreciate the staff of the Elephant Sanctuary taking time every morning to tell us more about the mission and the individual elephants. In this way we were educated about the elephant sanctuary and were able to start our days with some renewed passion to help the elephants in any way we could.

Got a spot on the Elephant Sanctuary's group volunteer day in November 2015 and spent the day raking and bagging lots of fallen leaves for enrichment for the elephants. The weather was (fortunately) cold and wet which made the elephants come close to the Asian elephant barn rather than roaming out in the 2,700 acres of the sanctuary where the general public is not allowed. The barn has heated floors and special flooring to cushion their feet, as well as safe enclosures for each elephant. We ate our brown-bag lunches in a viewing area near the barn and were able to see 5 of the Asian elephant population - but were also cautioned not to stay too long or take too many photos so as not to cause too much anxiety.
This for me is the most impressive part of the Elephant Sanctuary program and mission- they are so sensitive to the elephants' need for privacy and freedom (after a past of exploitation and often violent control methods or even abuse) that they restrict almost all public access to the elephants to remote video cams. While they choose their volunteers (like me) from a pool of people who have supported the sanctuary via a volunteer lottery, they only allow up to 20 volunteers at the Sanctuary 1 day a month 10 months out of the year to work on group projects, while keeping the group closely supervised. As a volunteer you are not guaranteed to see any of the elephants - as they are no longer on exhibit for our gratification but rather have a true sanctuary for their own gratification. But the point is to make these elephants' lives a little better and understand the contrast between their relative freedom and more natural lifestyle compared to the plight of the many elephants still in inhumane captivity.
A total of 14 Asian and African elephants currently live on the sanctuary in a very secluded and well-hidden refuge. (Through the years this organization has been able to rescue 27 elephants from zoos, circuses and other restrictive environments - and has also lead the way toward developing and teaching more humane methods of treating captive elephants). The sanctuary has big build-out plans so that they can take in more and more elephants from inhumane situations as well as to enhance their public education programming.
This organization faces unique challenges - how to promote an animal sanctuary that is not open to the public in the usual way while attracting support from that same public for the expensive operations of caring for such large animals in compassionate ways - plus also advocating for a change in the way our society treats elephants in captivity. They walk that fine line with creativity and passion.

Colleen McMullen

Wonderful.
Knowing I was doing something to benefits those majestic animals
was humbling

Great cause! There care for the welfare of elephants is inspiring. The elecams are a great way to share the experience

What The Elephant Sanctuary stands for and accomplishes is impressive to me. In addition to the wonderful work they do with their special elephants, they have an education center in Hohenwald, TN, minutes away from the Sanctuary. They also publish a newsletter that keeps all of us elephant supporters updated on each girl. Their web site is one of the best I have seen in that the history of each elephant can be easily found as well as all of the archived reports about what is going on there on a daily basis.

The unique way that staff write about their charges and tell delightful stories about their every-day activities pulls people into their lives and makes them really care about the elephants and their Sanctuary.

Individuals with strong interests are invited to volunteer at the Sanctuary for one day each year. I did this last year, and it was one of the bigger thrills of my life. It was wonderful meeting Todd, the education director, and all of the other staff and volunteers working there that day.

I have also been trained as an Ele-Ambassador to present programs in my community. The Sanctuary has trained people from all over the country. to be Ele-ambassadors.

I find it easy to donate to the Sanctuary for several reasons. First, because of their outstanding communications I feel that I know personally each of the elephants by name and want to contribute to their well-being as well as participate in many of the fun celebrations that the Sanctuary promotes such as buying a candle for Shirley's 65th birthday or participating in a fun run for Billy.

The Sanctuary continually strives to improve the environment for the "girls" and involve volunteers in the activities conducted there. Another reason I find donating easy is because of their low key approach to fund-raising. The appeals are always very positive and uplifting. And unlike other places to whom I have donated The Sanctuary does not start asking for more money immediately after I donate.

Another way The Sanctuary connects interested people to the elephants is through the cameras mounted around the Sanctuary. Viewers can watch the girls napping, pushing over a tree, swimming in the several ponds, and playing with and enjoying each others company.

The Sanctuary is a peaceful and authentic place that treats its charges with the utmost respect and care. Staff inform the interested about each elephant's activities on a daily basis. We are happy when progress is reported and so sad when we learn of losses.

The Elephant Sanctuary is the only charitable organization I have ever been associated with where I actually feel like part of a family.

I am a volunteer for this non profit and have been a huge admirer of Carol Buckley for some time now. Everyone that works at this sanctuary has their full heart and commitment. They truly care about the elephants and getting them as comfortable and as close to their natural life as possible. Such a magical place, and they are forever expanding their knowledge in ways that can help the elephants here and even elephants all over the world that are in need.

The elephant sanctuary of Tennessee is a true sanctuary! The elephants have 2700 acres of space. Free will barns and freedom to choose what they do and where they are 24/7. No human contact aside from the caregivers. No bull hooks! No punishment! They are able to form new herds and friendships. It is literally heaven on earth for elephants!

I discovered this charity many years ago after reading an article about them. I visited their website and was completely hooked! After several years of keeping up to date and becoming more and more informed about the plight of captive elephants and the opportunity The Elephant Sanctuary offers to retired pachyderms, I offered to use my expertise as a public speaker to spread the word about TES. For the last few years, I have spent numerous hours speaking to groups all over Massachusetts, sharing my knowledge of The Elephant Sanctuary's mission. More recently, I became an official Ele-Ambassador for the non-profit. One of the things that impressed me early-on about TES is that when I offered to speak on their behalf, I told them that I would not do it as part of a fundraising campaign. My goal was only to educate the publice. They were perfectly fine with that, which says a lot about an organization that depends on donations to survive. Another impressive thing about TES is that they do not allow visitors to their actual Sanctuary site, as they believe that the elephants in their Sanctuary have done their time being on display and should be allowed to live out their lives in peace. Without a doubt, allowing the public to visit the habitat would certainly give them the opportunity to collect additional donations, but they have always stayed true to their mission, which is certainly something that should be lauded.

I have been teaching my Kindergarten students about The Elephant Sanctuary for 14 years. When I first saw an interview on TV I was hooked. It was then I understood what circus and zoo elephants have to endure to show us a few minutes of tricks and live a life of confinement. I'm sure not one of these Majestic mammals would choose this life of incarceration instead of living with their family in the wild. We blew it and now The Elephant Sanctuary is giving them a life as close to the wild as possible. My students love to hear the stories of the girls, their favorite foods and who their best friend is but it saddens us to hear how tiny they were when many were taken from their Mothers. I show my students many of the playful You Tube videos but our favorite time is watching the live Webcam during our center time! These 5 year olds have more empathy than some adults. They realize it's not about us, it's about how the elephants feel. It comes down to our #1 class rule "Be kind to others on the inside and outside". This includes animals. The Sanctuary is not open to the public so the girls can truly live as an elephant should. I donate each month because it is my hope that in my lifetime we will no longer have any elephants in zoos or circuses. I tell anyone I can about TES and I hear so often "I just didn't know". We need to treat these great emotional creatures to a better life, a sanctuary life.

The Elephant Sanctuary is a very worthwhile charity. Not only do they have a solid Charity Navigator review, their cause is unique, being one of only two elephant sanctuaries in North America. My donations are always promptly acknowledged. Their ancillary programs help educate the public on important conservation matters. TES oversees a volunteer ambassador program, distance learning for schoolchildren, all in addition to the primary mission of elephant caretaking. If you watch their webcams it's easy to see success in that most important area. The "girls" are obviously happy as they splash around in the ponds, explore the 2700 acre habitat, and lay down to sleep while outside (something an e lephant only does when she feels safe and secure. It's a wonderful organization!

What can I say about this fabulous organization?!? The work they do is amazing! I love to log on and watch what the girls )as I think of them) are doing today. I have a very shy 9 year old and talking to people about the Elephant Sanctuary has really helped her come out of her shell. We did distance learning program it was fabulous!! The kids learned all about elephants and the Elephant Sanctuary. It brings tears to my eyes to watch them be truly elephants as nature intended!!!!

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the largest, most well thought out refuge in the country for our largest land mammal. Those fortunate enough to receive sanctuary here live out their days in the freedom, dignity, and society they deserve.

These people are doing amazing things in Tennessee! The care and compassion that is shown to these animals is truly unbelievable. It warms my heart to know what a difference is being made in these majestic animals lives by these extraordinary people!

I have volunteered with this organization for some time and have seen in person the dedication and care given to these elephants, the educational outreach and the support that is provided to the volunteers. The entire Sanctuary is funded through donations.

A beautiful place in South Central Tennessee where elephants can roam. It's a great sanctuary where the girls (the elephants) get the best of everything, food, medical care and enrichment. When I have volunteered there, the staff wad welcoming and knowledgeable. The girls health and safety is always the number one priority.