*************I can’t think of a better day to introduce FLORA, a new member of our family to you. This is a m0mentous day!!!! Ringland Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus has announced that Elephants will no longer be a part of the circus, and they are retiring all of their Elephants to the “Center for Elephant Conservation” in Florida!!! Not a bad place to retire…… This will be completed by 2018, and they will be joining 40 other elephants…….I don’t exactly know why it has to take so long, but it is great news non the less!
************* Our Flora, or to be accurate Jac’s Flora, you remember my baby is Tara, is from Africa…..they have bigger ears than the Asian elephants. Flora is a BIG girl….9’4″ tall and 9,450 lbs…..that’s a lot of girl power. Her favorite food is watermelon. “Flora was born in 1982 in the wilds of Zimbabwe, Africa. She was orphaned at the age of two as the result of a culling [mass killing] of all the adults in her family herd in order to control wild elephant populations. Flora spent some time with an elephant broker in Southern Cal. and was soon purchased by David Balding. Ironically, during Flora’s early training sessions, she was met by Tarra and the future Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley, who at the time offered elephants training classes. David Buckley introduced Flora to the world of circus entertainment in 1985. Following her debut in “Circus Flora”, she spent the next 18 years preforming under the Big Top with him. In addition to her on stage performances, Flora also starred in the PeeWee Herman movie BIGTOP. After years of traveling, David realized that Flora no longer enjoyed performing. He wanted to see that his beloved companion found a better life. Initially, it was hoped she could return to Africa and be re-introduced into the wild, but because that option proved to be unrealistic. The Elephant Sanctuary, who had made plans to create an African elephant habitat, offered to expand their construction plans and offered Flora a permanent home. While David researched her placement options, Flora was loaned to the Miami Metro Zoo in Florida. On March 3, 2004, Flora completed her trip from Miami to Hohenwald, Tennessee to become the twelfth resident of the Elephant Sanctuary. She was the third African, joining Tange and Zula who had arrived just a few weeks earlier, and had been exploring the brand new African barn and habitat ahead of her.. Flora is the youngest elephant at the Elephant Sanctuary. She also commandeered the title of the Sanctuary’s largest elephant until Minnie arrived from the Hawthorn Corporation a few years later. Flora possesses a very regal stature with loads of self confidence and enthusiasm exploring. Tange loves to encourage and solicit play from Flora and consistently cultivates her companionship.” Jac fell in love with Flora and picked her to adopt….I guess it’s one show girl to another…LOL………..
……………………..hope you enjoy meeting Flora……………………..much Love…………………………….Louis
It’s so gratifying to see people stepping up to help support these elephants. We have always had a menagerie of animals, many who were strays and others we have adopted. Can’t imagine living without them. But we’ve never had an elephant!
I have spent the last couple of hours reading the Elephant Sanctuary’s website and read all the girls’ bios. Since I’m a Texan and Sissy was mistreated for so many years in Texas, I felt I should adopt her. Something that endeared her to me was that she began carrying a tire around for security when she was young and does to this day! Thanks, Louis for introducing me to this cause.
Dear Kay, Jac and I were so happy to read about you adopting Sissy. I know it’s very hard , after reading all of their stories, to choose just one, but there is always one who’s special story pulls at our heart strings. Congratulations to you, and I’m so glad to hear Sissy has a new Mommy!
Dear Kay, Jac and I were so happy to read about you adopting Sissy. I know it’s very hard ,after reading all of their stories, to choose just one, but there is always one who’s special story pulls at our heart strings. Congratulations to you, and I’m so glad to hear Sissy has a new Mommy!
After reading “Sissy’s Diary”, I learned that after a couple of years, she became confident enough to leave her security blankie (tire) in the barn. This happened after she welcomed Winkie into the sanctuary and helped her adjust just as Barbara and the others had done for her. I know I’ll be following all their stories. Also read about your Tarra and her relationship with Bella the dog. Very sweet.
They are such sweet animals and so sentimental. The bonds they form last forever. I remember seeing a special on elephants. It was about baby elephants that had no mothers and were taken to special sanctuaries in Africa. What amazed me was they had to have many different handlers, because if they only had one they would grow so attached that they would be heartbroken if the handler left. Don’t you just love them! I would love to take care of baby elephants.
When my husband and I were on Safari a few years ago we saw the herds of elephants always surrounding the babies to protect them. There is also a story of a handler dying and the herd traveling very long distances to his home to mourn. They are indeed very special and I’m proud to be a supporter.
They are indeed special!
I notice that Flora has very short tusks (tusk puds)? Have they been trimmed? Love your and Jacques contribution to making this crazy world more sane and compassionate.
I don’t know, but since she was in a circus for so many years that would make sense.
Look at those eyes! She seems to be looking lovingly at the photographer.
Well you convinced me to adopt one of these wonderful animals.
Beryl
Good for you!…Let me know who you chose.
I just adopted Debbie
Congratulations!!!!That’s terrific….Debbie is a sweet heart!
Thank you for posting this heart-warming story about Flora and her elephant friends. Elephants are such wonderful creatures. Bless you and Jac for contributing to their wellbeing.
I’ve been hearing on the news that the elephants were no longer going to be in the circus. I remember years ago seeing the elephants being walked through the Lincoln tunnel I think very late at night. I am sure Flora and the rest of her friends are smiling and celebrating.
Flora has such a regal look. What a proud beauty she is. Congratulations to Jac on the adoption. Your family has a big heart, Louis.
I can see why Jac fell in love with this beautiful elephant!
Flora is beautiful and lucky to have found the Sanctuary. Such good news – finally – that Ringling elephants are to be homed. Thank you both for sharing her with us.
Flora is a Beauty!
CNN (The Lead with Jake Tapper) just ran the Story about the Elephants being phased out from the Circus – and also commented that they were not sure why it would take 3 years!
Flora has lovely confirmation, and I so admire her wrinkles. Kudos to Jac for adopting her!