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How many of us think of elephants getting old and not being able to work anymore—where do the zoos and circuses send their retired and aging elephants when they no longer want them? One such place I have chosen as a donation for the year is The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwalk,Tennessee, where 2,700 acres of hills, watering holes, and country stars offer a home to retiring elephants that have never known such freedom before—located 85 miles southwest of Nashville.

Every elephant that arrives soon has a best friend. Tarra was such an elephant, quickly finding that a dog named Bella is her new best buddy for life. To read this story, check out elephants.com. To respect such a relationship, one needs to look at this natural-habitat refuge where sick, old and needy elephants are in their natural habitat, walking on earth in the manner of peace and dignity for which they were born to do.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which was founded in 1995, the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, which is America´s largest independent evaluator of charities. Considered the largest natural habitat refuse in the nation, it was developed specifically for endangered Asian and African elephants. The sanctuary was developed for two reasons. One is to provide a safe haven for elephants that are old, sick or needy amidst green pastures, spring-fed ponds, dense forests, and heated barns when the weather is cold during the winter nights.

The second reason is to provide education about any crisis facing these endangered creature—creatures that are psychologically playful, passionately intense, intelligent, and very complex. Licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, it provides three separate and protected natural-habitat environments for these elephants. Retired from performing and entertaining the public, instead they are encouraged to be elephants for which they were born to be.

The Humane Society of the U.S., through Phil Snyder, states, The Elephant Sanctuary represents the future of enlightened captive elephant management. PHASES OF THE SANCTUARY´S DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES:

Phase I -- began in March of 1995, included a heated barn, a 200-acre steel pipe, a cable elephant corral, and a 222-acre perimeter people fence

• Phase I -- began in March of 1995, included a heated barn, a 200-acre steel pipe, a cable elephant corral, and a 222-acre perimeter people fence
• Phase II – completed in December 1999, adding a 6-stall, 9,000-square foot, state-of-the-art elephant barn to the facility. Land expansion began October 2001 with a parcel of wilderness known locally as the Highland Land Lake, a 700-acre parcel of land with a 25-acre lake.
• Final acquisition of the expansion which is an 1,840-acre parcel of wilderness, owned previously by the International Paper company.
• Completed in January 2004 was the African Elephant Habitat, with a 300-acre facility with an award-winning elephant house as a showcase for innovative solar use.
• Phase I barn renovation was completed in November 2004, creating a new Asian elephant house.
• Funding for all projects comes from private contributions, in-kind donations, and membership support.