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Even Elephants Love To Call Tennessee Home!

Updated: Dec 14, 2022

September 22nd is Elephant Appreciation Day!

You may be thinking to yourself "why do I need to know that?," but down the backroads of Tennessee, in Hohenwald, you'll find the largest elephant sanctuary in the country- The Elephant Sanctuary.

Founded in 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee provides a safe refuge and companionship for retired performance and exhibition elephants. As of today, the facility is the largest natural habitat refuge for captive elephants in North America, growing from 110 acres to 3,060 acres, and caring for 28 elephants.

A safe haven dedicated to elephants' well-being is the goal and mission of The Elephant Sanctuary, which seeks to provide captive elephants with the finest possible care, companionship, and a herd environment.

In addition to this, there is also a substantial need to educate the public about the complex needs of elephants in captivity as well as the dire situation they live in in the wild.

In order to ensure that elephants no longer live under constant threat of poaching, habitat loss, conflict, or capture there must be an increase in public awareness in order to achieve that goal. In The Elephant Discovery Center, visitors can explore the many ways elephants influence the world around them through hands-on exhibits and educational programming.

The Elephant Discovery Center welcomes families to visit, explore, and learn about the mission and work of The Elephant Sanctuary. Admission is always free though donations are welcome. The education staff is on hand during open hours to answer questions and guide your family through the exhibit space. Maps of the space are also available for a more self-guided experience. If you are looking for additional activities to engage your family beyond the exhibits, you're invited to attend one of the many special events that are held throughout the year.

You can learn more about The Elephant Sanctuary and The Elephant Discovery Center by clicking here.

The Elephant Sanctuary is not open to the public