Tarra, the Birthday Girl!

This Valentine’s Day, Tarra turns 51 years young. Fifty years ago, not knowing exactly when the small elephant was born, Carol Buckley chose the perfect date to celebrate baby Tarra. Tarra knows how to love deeply and quickly migrated to the role of matriarch when she arrived at Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA), guiding her younger herd mates Bo and Mundi on how to embrace their elephantness and enjoy their expansive, lush forever home.

Tarra was captured from the wild in 1974 in Myanmar (formerly Burma) in Southeast Asia when she was only three months old. Sold to a tire store owner in California, Tarra was kept in the back of a delivery truck on display to attract customers. Three months later, Carol, EAI’s CEO and founder, saw Tarra and volunteered to help care for the baby elephant. Soon, she took Tarra home each night so she could play outdoors and feel safe. There, Tarra met Carol’s dog, and her delight in canine companionship was born.

Tarra embraced Carol, who bottle-fed her and used her dog-training skills to communicate with the baby elephant. Tarra was quick to learn and loved the attention. She chattered frequently to Carol, who learned how to gauge what the young elephant needed by paying attention to both her body language and varied vocalizations—barking, grunting, chirping, etc. Tarra could not return to her elephant family in the wild, but she had found someone who wanted to understand her.

Long days on exhibit at the tire store were not mentally or physically healthy for Tarra, so Carol took out a loan and bought her from the store owner. She also purchased a piece of property in the Los Padres National Forest in Ojai, CA, where she and Tarra could live together. With limited options for raising an elephant in the USA in the 1970s, Carol and Tarra spent their first decade performing at various amusement parks and circuses together. They were a team traveling across the US, always stopping to explore the forests and waterways along the way. 

By age ten, it was clear that Tarra deserved a different lifestyle, one with more freedom and elephant friends. Carol began to dream of creating an elephant sanctuary. For the next decade, they lived with other elephants in several different zoos, but all failed to meet the needs of such an evolved, intelligent, and self-aware animal.

So, Carol sold her home, bought land in TN, and built a barn so that Tarra could have the life she deserved, one where she would thrive. Fifteen years and 23 elephant rescues later, a hostile takeover by the sanctuary board changed everything. Carol was out, and Tarra was left with a new management style that did not meet her needs. Tarra suffered and was treated with medication for anxiety and aggression. Learning this, Carol sued the sanctuary, and the jury of 12 unanimously allowed Tarra to return to the woman who had raised her. Once again, Tarra’s famous chattering would be understood by her caregiver, who had thankfully built another elephant sanctuary—Elephant Refuge North America—that would be her forever home.

Now, at age 51, Tarra lives in an elephant haven on the Florida-Georgia state line with her elephant friends Bo and Mundi as together they explore, graze, swim, wallow, sleep, and play with dogs Mala and Samie, enjoying their best life as a close-knit herd.

Trunkful of Treats for Tarra’s Dogs

For Tarra’s birthday, help her share the love (of food, that is!) with her furry friends. She’s ready for some delectable delights for her canine companions. Each tasty treat promises a burst of flavor and nutrition, ensuring that Mala and Samie will be replenished after a fun game of chase.



Please donate today to help fill Tarra’s trunk with treats for her beloved dogs!

Will You Be Tarra’s Valentine?

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating love and the incredible life of Tarra as she turns 51! Please show your support and make her day extra special with a gift that helps her thrive. Whether it’s through sponsorship, feeding her, contributing to her care, or grabbing a commemorative T-shirt, there’s a meaningful way for everyone to join in the celebration.

Sponsor Tarra: For just $75 annually or through a monthly donation, you can sponsor Tarra and receive a certificate featuring a photo of her and five fascinating facts about her remarkable life.

Feed Tarra: From apples to bales of hay, your contribution helps provide the healthy fruits, veggies, and supplements Tarra enjoys each day. Every bit counts!

Tarra’s Year of Care: Help cover Tarra’s $145,000 annual care costs, ensuring she gets everything she needs for a happy, healthy life—from nutritious food and veterinary care to daily enrichment.

TarraT-Shirts: Celebrate with style! Choose between two commemorative T-shirts—one featuring Tarra on her own and another with Tarra alongside her companions, Bo and Mundi. Wear your support proudly!

Tarra and Bella:An Elephant and Dog Friendship: Discover the heartwarming story of Tarra and Bella, her stray dog companion, in this beautifully illustrated book. It includes stunning photos and a letter to the reader with updates on Tarra’s life at Elephant Refuge North America—a true tale of love and friendship.

Together, let’s make Tarra’s 51st birthday a celebration of love, joy, and everything she means to all of us. Thank you for being part of her journey!

A Decade of Freedom and Friendship: Shanti, Shree, and Mel Kali

Many of you may remember Shanti and Shree, two dear friends from Nepal. Recently, they posed for a photo at the hattisar (elephant home) in Sauraha, where we built our first chain-free corrals back in 2013.

Of great interest in the photo is the tent in the background—Mel Kali's private tent. This simple structure represents her resilience and a groundbreaking step in elephant care. In 2013, while Carol was providing elephant foot care and building chain-free corrals for Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Mel Kali, an aged elephant used for anti-poaching patrol in Chitwan National Park, nearly died of pneumonia. In response to Carol’s urging, Kiran, a dedicated vet tech, a receptive group of mahouts, and the suba (head mahout) provided around-the-clock emergency care, saving her life.

With Carol’s encouragement, management made the decision to retire Mel Kali. For the past decade, she has spent her days wandering freely through Chitwan National Park. On cold nights, she returns to her private tent, where she’s protected from the winter chill. Initially, the mahouts doubted whether this arrangement would work, but Mel Kali surprised everyone. She quickly adapted, proving how resourceful and resilient elephants can be.

Now 64 years old, Mel Kali continues to thrive. This milestone is a testament to the mahouts’ willingness to embrace a new approach for the well-being of their elephants. Their openness and care have truly changed her life.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who played a role in giving Mel Kali the chance to live her golden years in freedom and comfort. To learn more about our first chain-free corrals and Mel Kali’s remarkable journey, visit https://elephantaidinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ENewsFeb2013-3.pdf

Shanti and Shree

2013: Shree, Jogendra, Ram, supervisor Paspat and Punte

next to Mel Kali after putting her blanket on for the first time.

Bales for Eles: Help Us Reach Our Goal!

Winter has settled in at Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA)—well, South Georgia’s mild version of winter! From a rare snowfall last month to temperatures in the 70s, the weather keeps us guessing. However, one thing that remains constant is the need to provide high-quality Timothy hay for Bo, Tarra, and Mundi during this season of slower grass growth.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve already raised $2,300, but we still need your help to reach our goal of $8,470. Timothy hay is essential for their diet, offering high fiber, species-appropriate protein (around 7%), and essential minerals. Its abrasive texture supports their digestive health and provides plenty of fuel for cooler days (and unexpectedly warm ones, too).

Since high-quality Timothy hay isn’t grown in humid climates, we import it from Ohio. One semi-trailer hauls 770 bales for $11 per bale, delivered.

How You Can Help



🎁 Sponsor a Bale: Donate $11 to fund one bale of Timothy hay.

🎁 Support 10 Bales: Contribute $110 to provide ten bales.

🎁 Go Big with 100 Bales: Donate $1,100 to cover one hundred bales.

With Tarra’s birthday on February 14th, there’s no better way to celebrate than by ensuring all three elephants—Bo, Tarra, and Mundi—have the nourishment they need to stay healthy and happy this winter.

Thank you for being a part of their journey and giving the gift of good health!

Let’s rally together to load up Bales for Eles and meet our goal!

To celebrate Tarra’s 51st birthday, this new stone series honors her gentle wisdom and the kindness she shares with the world. By observing Tarra, we learn to be full of goodness, acting with empathy and respect toward others. She lives in harmony with her environment, reminding us to embrace simplicity and find joy in meaningful connections.

Each hand-painted stone in the "Happy Birthday Tarra 2025" collection is crafted by Maritza Curet from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, as a tribute to Tarra’s peaceful spirit. These stones are generously donated to support Bo, Tarra, and Mundi.

A Special Thank You - Subscriber Premiere Video

Celebrate Tarra’s 51st with a look back at a year of love, adventure, and special moments!

Click the image above to watch!