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October Declared Elephant Awareness Month in the State of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2018

Media Contact:

Kate Mason

kate@elephants.com

Hohenwald, Tenn. In recognition of the commitment, perseverance, and milestones achieved by The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in caring for retired captive elephants since 1995, October 2018 has been declared “Elephant Awareness Month” in Tennessee, as well as Lewis County and Hohenwald, Tenn.

Gov. Bill Haslam, Lewis Co. Mayor Jonah Keltner and Hohenwald Mayor Danny McKnight have signed official proclamations stating, “The Elephant Sanctuary continually sets and reaches its goals, and works collaboratively to share best-practices to help improve the management, treatment, and care of elephants everywhere.”

Founded in 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is America’s largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically around the needs of captive elephants retired from entertainment and exhibition. Spanning 2,700 acres, The Sanctuary is currently home to seven Asian elephants and four African elephants. Accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), The Elephant Sanctuary does not allow public visitation of the elephants’ habitats. Supporters may view live-streaming video of the elephants at www.elephants.com.

The Elephant Sanctuary has planned several special events to coincide with Elephant Awareness Month. No elephants will be present at these events.

During Hohenwald’s annual Oktober Heritage Festival—October 11 through 13—The Elephant Sanctuary invites visitors to The Elephant Discovery Center to learn about the many ways elephants shape our world. Children and their families will also be able to carve pumpkins as enrichment for the elephants, as well as lend their artistic talents to a paint-it-yourself mural. Inside the Elephant Discovery Center, which will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., visitors can explore hands-on interactive exhibits, view the live-streaming EleCams, and visit The Sanctuary’s gift shop. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, The Elephant Discovery Center will host a Caregiver Chat on the role “Enrichment” plays in the day-to-day care of the elephants. Hands-on activities to follow.

The Elephant Sanctuary also offers 45-minute virtual Distance Learning Programs for local school, library, or community groups through video, photos, and live-streaming EleCams. Contact jowens@elephants.com for more information.

For more information on related activities during the month of October, visit www.elephants.com/discovery-center. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, located 85 miles southwest of Nashville in Hohenwald, Tenn., provides elephants that have been retired from exhibit or performing with individualized care, the companionship of a herd, and the opportunity to live out their lives in a safe haven dedicated to their wellbeing. The non-profit Sanctuary also works to raise public awareness of the complex needs of elephants in captivity, and the crisis facing elephants in the wild.