[Above] Liz's Health decline after arriving at TES. The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee (TES) is not what it appears to be. Since it's opening in 1995, TES has a dark history of death, disease, neglect and taking received donations for personal use. Here are a few SHOCKING facts about TES, you probably had no idea about. (EVIDENCE INCLUDED) #1. Highest Death Rate of Any Elephant facility in the US -- Since it's opening, TES is responsible for over 17 elephant deaths. We know not every facility is perfect, There will be deaths BUT The Death Rate is what's the concern here. At least 2 Elephants die at TES each year. 6 Elephants have died in a 3-year period alone! To the Animal Rights Extremists, The deaths seem "natural" and They claim the Elephants die because they were worked to death from their previous lives and "gave up". Nonsense and Lies! These Elephants were in fact proven that they did not show health problems or mental issues UNTIL arriving at the facility. Another concern is the causes of death - over 70% are apparently 'Unknown", while others died of foot diseases or TB (Tuberculosis). Some were also said to be euthanized for unknown reasons. The Life expediency at TES is only between 40-50 years, while in Zoos and most circuses, It's 50-70 years. The oldest elephants in human care happen to reside in Zoological or Circus care. The oldest Elephants in the US happen to be in proper human care. Let's analyze the Deaths of TES: - DEATHS + CAUSE OF DEATH: Barbara (aged 35) - pulmonary infection and chronic wasting disease Tina (aged 34) - Heart Problems Lota (aged 53) - Tuberculosis (TB) Jenny (aged 34) - Foot problems Delhi (aged 72) - Unknown Queenie (aged 49) - Unknown Bunny (aged 56) - filed as "Unknown" (We'll get to what happened to her...) Lottie (aged 47) - Unknown, but most reports claim TB exposure Dulary (aged 50) - Unknown Frieda (aged 49) - filed under "Unknown", TB exposure Liz (aged 58) - TB (confirmed by TES) Misty (aged 52) - Euthanized (Unknown reasons) Winkie (aged 51) - Euthanized (Foot issues) Ned (aged 22) - Starved to death (death filed as "unknown") Zula (aged 34) - Fell after entering the barn, died that night (filed as "Unknown") Rosie (aged 47) - Collapsed; never helped up Hadari (aged 37) - Cardiac Arrest (body wasn't found until hours later) - FULL DEATH REPORT HERE #2. Horrible Living Conditions and refused Veterinary care -- The Elephants of TES are forced to stay in cramped, concrete barn stalls. They have no substrate - like rubber mats, straw, sawdust or soft soil to ease their feet, like Zoos and Circuses provide. Standing on Concrete for long periods of time causes severe foot issues and can lead to diseases, as concrete is highly difficult to disinfect, Elephants are isolated while in the stalls and some have gotten so frustrated, They have harmed themselves by hitting their heads on the steel bars, causing bruises. The elephants are in the stalls almost 60% of their days, some only allowed outside for a photoshoot. Untreated Foot rot, dehydrated skin, dry ankles and infections are other commonly seen issues in Elephants at TES. It's obvious that there is no proper veterinary care provided which has led to such health issues and deaths. There is no Hands-On care at TES, like Zoological facilities mostly provide. According to sources written by former caregivers, The Elephants are basically ignored, expected to be wild animals again and deal with things on their own. [EXTRA READ] The Truth About Bunny's Death Bunny spent the majority of her life at the Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana, until The Zoo had to find her a new home due to financial issues and because they wanted her "retired". Bunny arrived at TES in September of 1999 and like them all, For a few months, She was kept isolated. Bunny did socialize after that but not so much. She never grew up with these elephants so she ignored them. After about 3 years there, Bunny was diagnosed with Severe Foot problems and slight arthritis. Files revealed that Bunny was barely treated and was still forced to be in a concrete barn stall without anything to ease her feet, which is why she chose to stay outside as much as she could. Her foot issues grew worse after more time went on, even developing minor foot rot on her back feet. - Sadly, In May of 2009 - Bunny fell down outside and couldn't get back up. TES staff used a Backhole to try to get her up but only injured her more. Carol Buckley was CEO of TES at the time and was told Bunny needed to be euthanized by a Veterinarian from the University of Georgia. Buckley did no such thing and only allowed a Tarp over Bunny and doped her up on pain medications, while Bunny laid there for 13 days and finally died, crushed by her own weight. TES was immediately cited by the USDA for not euthanizing Bunny when told to. Bunny had to suffer for 13 days and suffered without treatment for her feet for years. This was WRONG and VILE. - USDA REPORT: #3. Underemployed, Hostile Work Environment and Begging for Donations -- You heard right, TES is currently underemployed with only 6 elephant caregivers and 2 veterinarians, both members of PETA, on site. TES does however have more Board members and have linked 40-60% of their funds to PETA and their own legal expenses rather than buying needs for their Elephants. In one financial report, over $3,000 was mysteriously gone. TES claims to provide lots of fresh produce and hay for their elephants but Zoo elephants get more hay and fruits than TES elephants! In photos posted by TES, You'll never see an elephant given a entire stack or mountain of hay or a big pile of produce. TES expects them to be wild elephants again and only feed them these things like treats, making them live off the land. For the last few months, TES has been practically begging for donations since Nosey arrived - proving they see these animals as nothing but "poster children". Their employees also aren't required high education, only a year of internship and volunteering. So there's uneducated caregivers with no true knowledge of how to care for these animals, unlike those in Zoos and Circuses that are required to have some form of animal education or have spent their lives with elephants since childhood. Former employees of TES have spoken up about the welfare of the elephants as well as how their work environment was like. A Letter posted by one former elephant caregiver has been recently uncovered - revealing more on the true nature of former CEOs - Carol Buckley and Scott Blais. - FULL LETTER HERE: #4. TES allowed an Elephant named Ned to starve himself to Death -- In 2008, An Elephant named Ned was reportedly "confiscated" by the USDA and forced to be taken to TES. Ned's owner, Lance Ramos explained that Ned was a highly picky eater and the Elephant's personal veterinarian had Ned on a strict diet due to Ned having his own food preferences. Ned was not severely underweight when taken and while Ned was in the trailer to be taken to TES, Ramos tried bringing Ned some of his favorite treats and to say Good-Bye but was threatened by an officer that he would be shot on sight if he came near the elephant. Ned was taken to TES, and There he was completely miserable. Ned was kept isolated, had little contact and with lack of respect, TES staff did not continue Ned's prescribed Diet as recommended by his vet. For days, Ned refused to eat and barely drank water. He lost weight very quickly withing a couple months. Staff kept using Ned to gain donations, which were never used to help him. Within 6 months, Ned grew weakened and He finally died. TES later wrote that Ned had "ulcers and scarring in his intestines from stress". Elephant experts and Ned's personal vet denied this. His personal vet saying that Ned had none of those issues when he was with Ramos, If he did, Ramos wouldn't have him travel at all. Ned was only 22 years old and was the youngest to suffer and die of the neglect at TES. #5. TES is a Tuberculosis (TB) Breeding ground -- TES has had more TB outbreaks occur at their facility more than any facility in the US (besides PAWS - another awful "sanctuary" in CA) - Reported exposures and Outbreaks occurred in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Former CEO Carol Buckley and Staff blamed elephants Liz and Lota for the first TB exposing in 2009 when really it was the staff who was never tested for TB. At least 3 staff members were tested positive after the TB outbreak was learned. You see, these "Sanctuaries" do not have the same guidelines as Zoos and Circuses - which is Staff must be monthly tested for TB - as it is highly contagious between humans and elephants alike. TES claims Lota had TB after coming to TES from the Hawthorn Corp. but records from Hawthown revealed that Lota didn't test positive for TB while she was there. Lota tested positive within a month of being at TES. It was passed to Liz and 2 other elephants. TES did treatment but not enough. TES used the TB stories to gain more donations for their own use. Liz was exposed again and again in 2010, 2012 and 2015, until she finally died from TB in 2015. With concrete barns and such large spaces, It is near to impossible to completely get rid of TB bacteria and the bacteria can breed constantly. TES only isolated TB positive Elephants, and there are no reports of them giving proper trunk washes to Elephants with TB. Recently, TES admitted that in 2017 that Shirley has been exposed to TB since 2016 and is isolated. It's only a matter of time before Shirley becomes another victim. Sissy and Debbie are also suspected to have TB as their weight loss is a sign. Also, currently 5 of TES's Asian herd are in "Q-Habitat" or "Quarantine" - another TB outbreak is possible... The Elephant Sanctuary (TES) is NO "Paradise" for Elephants - We urge you to support Well-run Zoos and Circuses, who deeply love and work with these animals each day to inspire people to care for them and educate the public on the actual suffering elephants in The Wild - dying from poaching or habitat loss. DO NOT DONATE to TES - These Elephants deserve to be in a proper zoological facility, not a Death Camp!
13 Comments
Susan
6/16/2018 11:44:21 am
Send NOsEY Home!!! Florida misses their elephant!
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Carrie Twickler
6/26/2019 10:40:08 am
All the Elephants at the Sanctuary came with TB from Hawthorn. Ned was to sick and weak to make the trip to PAWS in California. The Sanctuary does not take males ordinarily. Most Elephants have issues coming in from standing on concrete in confined spaces. I think this article is highly misleading.
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Sparkle
1/2/2020 12:58:13 pm
The elephants did not arrive at TES with TB from Hawthorne. They got it from volunteers who were infected with it. Several elephants have been deliberately exposed to those that have it, including Shirley. Ned was not severely emaciated when he arrived at TES. He was only slightly underweight. He was known to be a very picky eater. He was losing weight as a result. Lance Ramos never neglected him. His personal vet had to constantly mix up his food in order to get him to eat. He finally got him on a diet he enjoyed. Ned was gaining weight when he was seized and sent to TES. TES refused to keep him on his diet. They believed he would eat when he was hungry. He lost a significant amount of weight due to refusing to eat. Six months later, he died. Just before he died, TES exploited him for donations. They made him out to be a neglected elephant when he was really a picky eater. Stop believing the lies this scamtuary puts out about elephants it 'rescues.' It doesn't care about them. It only sees them as dollar signs.
Maria
6/23/2021 06:41:50 pm
I knew Ned many years ago so followed this case closely, and watched the video of his arrival at TES. He was already very thin and listless (compared to the spirited animal I remember.) I also know (because I was there) that he was mistreated when in the circus. The BAC folks, where he was first, lied to us and said he and the other elephants had gone to a sanctuary, but in fact, Buckles W separated all three of the elephants (who were bonded) and sold Ned to Lance Ramos. Ned was only at TES for a few months before he succumbed to his condition. He was going to be transferred to CA but was too weak to travel and died before that could happen. If this really had all happened on site at TES, it would have taken much longer for him to starve.
Maria
6/23/2021 06:52:13 pm
PS. Here is a video of Ned's arrival at TES. You can see his spine and ribs. He's emaciated. They did not "let him starve himself to death" at TES. He arrived in terrible condition: https://youtu.be/N4o1WURtOT8
Sparkle
9/12/2021 08:35:26 am
Oh, stop lying. You never knew Ned. TES did let him starve to death. He was on a special diet to help him gain weight as it is well known he was very picky in his food choices. Many animals are. Videos can easily be shown and manipulated in a way to make animals look horrible when it is obvious they do not. TES wanted him for money, so they concocted a story that he was being neglected by Lance. They refused to continue his diet once they got him. He wouldn't eat and barely drank water. While he was growing weaker, he was exploited for donations to 'help' him. The money did not even go toward him. It went right into the pockets of the owners. Animals can lose weight very quickly in many different scenarios, especially if they prefer certain foods and will not eat what is offered. Former workers have come forward and revealed that TES is full of neglect and abuse. Carol Buckley and Scott Dias treated the workers and the elephants like trash. The former wouldn't have Bunny euthanized after she fell. She doped her up on meds and allowed her to be crushed by her own weight. You are just mad because people dare to call out TES for the hellhole it truly is. Poor, poor you. Whah, whah, whah. You are such a crybaby. You do not care about animals being exploited by 'sanctuaries' as long as they are 'free.' You are a hypocrite.
Aponi
11/10/2018 10:45:49 am
Can you writ some thing About fu
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Activist expose
11/10/2018 12:00:32 pm
Can you write about Paws Sanctuary Please
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HEATHER ANN WINTERS
11/4/2019 08:11:04 pm
This site is total BS. Shame on you.
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Sparkle
1/2/2020 01:03:22 pm
You're just angry that this site exposed TES for the scamtuary it is. It has never cared about elephants. It only sees them as dollar signs. The day is coming that it will be shut down and the elephants sent to real sanctuaries like Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary.
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Beth Lang
7/7/2021 08:45:43 am
Just the fact that you use the phrase "Animal Rights Extremists," it's clear that you have a significant bias in favor of those who prefer to use and exploit animals. Therefore I do not take any of your arguments seriously, and I question the authenticity of your evidence. Also, it's blatantly obvious that these pictures have been photoshopped. Come on, folks, give the general public some credit. We're not ALL gullible idiots.
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Sparkle
9/12/2021 08:57:40 am
The biggest animal exploiters are animal rights groups, especially those that run these 'sanctuaries.' They have no problem stealing well-treated animals from their owners and deliberately abusing and neglecting them in order to garner donations to 'help' them. The money does not even go toward them. It goes right into the pockets of the owners. If anyone is photoshopping pictures, it's the animal rights groups. They do this to hide injuries and infected wounds, so their supporters will not know about them. I saw a picture of Shirley with an infected leg wound that TES neglected to treat until five months later. In another picture where she was eating, the same wound is gone. It is obvious it was photoshopped to keep supporters from questioning it. You can't stand the fact that TES has been exposed for the death camp it is. Even workers have admitted they ignore the elephants and expect them to fend for themselves. There aren't even enough to tend to eleven elephants. In India, the rule of thumb is two mahouts per elephant to ensure it is well-cared for. There should be twenty-two workers tending to eleven elephants, not six. The greed of these 'sanctuaries' has been revealed, and you do not even care because the animals are 'free.' Pathetic hypocrite.
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