Photo by: The Daily Mail
Longleat are building the Longleat Elephant sanctuary to support the physical and behavioural care of elephants and my Elephant Expedition sponsors, Thirst Pockets are supporting the addition of a water play area.
If you are interested in helping build the sanctuary please make a donation.
Thirst Pockets supports elephant spa
Find out more about the sanctuary and the unique water play area that Thirst Pockets is funding for its elephant friends at facebook.com./thirstpockets
“Thirst Pockets are proud to have the Elephant as our emblem, in fact we’ve become really attached to these majestic, loveable animals. And when we heard about Europe’s first elephant sanctuary at Longleat, we knew we had to do something to help. So we’ve joined forces with the Longleat team to create the Thirst Pockets Elephant Spa, a fantastic water play area for our lovely elephant friends.”
It all began with the retirement of elephant Anne
In early 2011 welfare group Animal Defenders International released footage to the Daily Mail showing a circus elephant called Anne being brutalised by her handlers. From that moment campaigners began calling for 59-year-old Anne to be rehomed.
On 30 March 2011, Daily Mail reporters Claire Ellicott and Christian Gysin announced that, following secret discussions, Longleat Safari Park had come forward and offered Anne a permanent and safe place to retire and recuperate after her harrowing ordeal. You can read the original story here; ‘Could this be a loving new home for Anne? We’d be thrilled to take her in says Longleat after secret talks‘
Elephant Anne’s rehabilitation
On 5 April, Daily Mail’s Jane Fryer was able to report that Anne was settling in well to her new home; ‘A day this elephant will never forget: Anne’s retirement begins as campaign to build haven for circus animals is launched’
Jonathan Cracknell, Longleat’s animal operations director and elephant specialist, began the long and careful process of rehabilitating her. As well as long, daily walks through the 900-acre park, hydrotherapy will play an important part in her rehabilitation. Elephant’s love to mess around in water and, with the help of your donations to the Thirst Pockets campaign to build the elephant spa, Anne will be able to play in water pools and mud baths if her legs are strong enough.
The first European elephant sanctuary
Once Anne becomes stronger, Longleat aim to bring in other elephants to keep her company. Female elephants enjoy being part of a herd.
So. Please help Anne and the future inhabitants of Longleat’s elephant sanctuary. The first of its kind in Europe, it is set to become a haven for these much beloved creatures. Donate Now!
