Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary

e1287094102, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. It is always difficult to have to pass along the news whenever we lose one of our beloved elephants—especially when their passing is so sudden. On the morning of October 10, Lottie was nowhere to be found when her caregiver headed out into the habitat to deliver the Girls their breakfast. Minnie was in Field 6 by herself, calmly grazing and offering us no hints on the whereabouts of her best friend. After organizing an expanded search, Lottie was finally discovered lying under a large cedar tree hidden behind some brush, with no sign of life. From Buckles: "This news from Josip Marcan who keeps up on these places. I first saw "Lottie" in 1976. A bunch of us drove over to Orlando from Circus World to catch the Vargas Show and visit with Wally Ross. He had just picked her up that season, I think he said from a zoo. She was about half grown at the time. She probably died of a broken heart, pining away after the loss of her former Sanctuary Director."