PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

September 2018 | Newsletter

At age 52, Lulu is the second oldest African elephant in North America.

Spotlight on

African Elephant Lulu  

African elephant Lulu is truly a case study in the transformational power of sanctuaries. She went from an elephant almost paralyzed with fear and anxiety – literally crawling on the ground on her elbows and knees when she saw other elephants – to being an extremely confident member of her elephant group today.

Lulu arrived at ARK 2000 from the San Francisco Zoo in 2005. This was only the second trip of her life. The first was after she was captured in Swaziland at the age of two and sold to the San Francisco Zoo. Lulu was ripped away from her caring mother (who was likely killed in the process) and all that she knew – freedom, the dynamic sights and sounds of the African savanna, and a vast network of elephant kin – and sentenced to a lifetime in captivity. (View a video of Lulu's arrival at the zoo in 1968 here .)

Even with the best efforts of the elephant staff in San Francisco, life at the zoo was stressful for Lulu. Another elephant frequently bullied and dominated her, often trapping Lulu in a corner with no means of escape or blocking her access to food or a barn doorway. At the same time, Lulu fiercely lashed out at her captors, as well as inanimate objects like the truck tire given to the elephants as “enrichment.” When Lulu first arrived at PAWS she was fearful, becoming so anxious around other elephants that she would squat down low to the ground, making herself as small as possible to avoid conflict.

African elephants Maggie (left) and Lulu at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary.

Elephants in nature are highly social animals, but this doesn’t mean that all individuals will get along when forced to live together in captivity. Wild female elephants live with their grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters and their offspring. In contrast, captive elephants are usually strangers from entirely different countries. It's hard to blame those elephants who act out aggressively, as they are merely responding to the dysfunctional environment of captivity – worlds away from the life they were meant to lead.

It was PAWS’ co-founder, the late Pat Derby, who largely helped Lulu overcome her fear. Pat and PAWS President and Co-founder Ed Stewart believed in the power of sanctuary to heal past trauma, and to help transform elephants into the magnificent wild animals they are by giving them a spacious natural environment, loving care, and the freedom to choose where to go and what to do — a safe place to just be elephants again. In Lulu’s case, it took time, constant attention, and the special touch that Pat had with animals. Slowly but surely, Lulu relaxed and became more comfortable with her new elephant companions. Pat’s magic touch didn’t end with her untimely death from cancer in 2013. Lulu's confidence has continued to grow, and her personality to blossom.

Seeing how far this special elephant has come, Ed calls the changes a miracle. Today, Lulu has no fear. She confidently heads up her elephant group that includes Maggie and T0ka as they traverse the hills of their expansive habitat, foraging on grass and trees, mudding themselves, exploring or taking a nap. To be clear, Lulu is not the matriarch, a word that is often misused by captive institutions. Matriarchs are the leaders of their family groups. According to ElephantVoices , the matriarch is generally the oldest and largest adult female family member who helps ensure the group’s survival by using her courage and wisdom in times of crisis, her memory of places and individuals during difficult times, and her social skills to maintain and reinforce the close bonds within her family.

At age 52, Lulu is the second oldest African elephant in North America. Had she been left in her native home, it's likely Lulu would still be reproducing and bringing more elephants into her family and the greater elephant population.

Lulu may be our smallest African elephant at PAWS, but she’s made the biggest transformation of all.

PAWS is honored to know and care for this very special elephant. We thank all of our supporters for helping us provide Lulu – affectionately called "Little Lu" by Ed, Pat, and the elephant staff – and all of the elephants at PAWS with as close to a natural habitat home as possible. 

“Adopt” Lulu for one year by clicking here .

Lulu, Maggie and Toka.

Top 5 Reasons to

Attend the PAWS Conference

The PAWS 2018 International Captive Wildlife Conference, taking place November 9-11 in Burbank, California, is quickly approaching. This is the only U.S.-based conference of its kind .

If you haven’t yet registered, here are five reasons to do so today !

1. Nearly 50 speakers representing work in 15 countries worldwide. More than half are new to the conference.

2. Many of the speakers doing amazing work for captive wildlife are rarely in the U.S., including: Dr. Keith Lindsay , Amboseli Elephant Research Project (Kenya); Jill Robinson , Animals Asia; Jason Mier and Maggie Shaarawi , Animals Lebanon; Katherine Connor , Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary (BLES); Dr. Chris Draper , Born Free Foundation UK; Sofie Goetghebeur and Tony Verhulst , Elephant Haven Sanctuary (France); Scott Blais , Global Sanctuary for Elephants (Brazil); David Hancocks (Australia); Sarah Blaine , Mahouts Elephants Foundation; Ivan Kurajov , Society for the Protection of Animals (LJUBIMCI) (Serbia); Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach , World Animal Protection (Thailand); and Roxy Danckwerts , Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery

3. Get the latest information on captive elephants, marine mammals, big cats and bears.

4. Hear from the movers and shakers in animal law, conservation, science, education, animal care, welfare and policy, and more.

5. Meet others interested in the welfare of captive wildlife and learn how you can help!

The conference also features a special Friday night Ice Breaker reception (separate ticket is required) and silent auction, and a delicious plant-based lunch and two snack breaks each day.

This three-day conference happens just once every four years! Click on the "register now" button below for information, program, and registration!

Please note: Discounted hotel rates are available only until October 15 ^th or until rooms are sold out.

Registration closes on November 1. You must register in advance of the event. Seating is limited, and we expect this event to sell out. Don’t wait. Register now!

PAWS thanks our generous conference sponsors: David Reuben, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Alyne Fortgang, In Defense of Animals, PETA Foundation, and Tigers in America. We also thank the International Fund for Animal Welfare for its support.

Program and speakers are subject to change.

Special Thanks:

Every Penny Saved (and Donated!) Helps the Animals of PAWS

   

PAWS thanks Bryan Hickingbottom , our Financial Advisor at the Raymond James Financial Services office in Lodi, California, for saving PAWS a significant amount of money in transactions involving donated stocks.

Donating stocks is just one of the many different ways our supporters can help PAWS. You can also make a donation of cash, real estate or personal property. In the case of securities and real estate, you can enjoy the tax benefit of avoiding capital gains taxes while taking the allowable charitable deduction.

You can also remember PAWS in your will to assure continuing care for the animals. A bequest can be in any form: cash, real estate, securities or personal property, and can be either a specific item or amount, a percentage of your estate, or the residuary of your estate.

Finally, you can name PAWS as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy and enjoy an immediate tax deduction equal to its current cash/replacement value.

Please consult your attorney, accountant or other tax professional to make the choice that best accommodates your wishes and provides a generous gift for the animals. For more information on making a special gift to PAWS, please contact Kim Gardner at kimkleingardner@yahoo.com . View PAWS' Guide to Major Gifts and Planned Giving brochure here .

Thanks again to Bryan and Raymond James Financial Services!

More Gratitude From PAWS

Special thanks to the students from Kingsbridge Community College , located in the county of Devon in Southwest England, for their kind donation. We are honored that the students chose PAWS to be one of the recipients of their successful "£10 Challenge. "

PAWS is grateful to Judy Hnilo for her support. Judy has turned her recycling efforts into a major fundraiser, raising nearly $25,000 for animal organizations! PAWS is thankful to be one of the non-profits that benefits from her worthwhile work.

Belated birthday wishes and an elephant-sized thank you to Lauren K. from Illinois, one of PAWS' youngest supporters, who donated all of her birthday money to the animals at PAWS!

Thank You September

Amazon Wish List Donors

Danielle Ellington: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Michele Grafton: one gallon of Red Cell, one box of 42 gal. trash bags. Cristin Esquibel: one Rain Bird sprinkler head, one box of 42 gal. trash bags. Faith Clinton: one Probiocin gel, two 6" water nozzles. Beverly Archer: one 6" water nozzle. Carole Bognar: two bottles of Renal Essentials 60#. Margaret Kane: one bottle of Renal Essentials 60#; one gallon of Red Cell. Anonymous Donors: two plastic folding tables; two popcorn poppers; one bag of popcorn kernels; one bag of raw peanuts; two RainBird sprinkler heads; one Probiocin; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium.



Click on PAWS' "wish list" links below to

donate specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:

PAWS' Amazon Wish List

View "wish list" items that are needed,

but not listed on the Amazon list,  here .



There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:

PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals that call our sanctuaries home. As animals age, their needs change and they may develop arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions that are readily treatable with proper care. PAWS expert animal care and veterinary staff provide specialized nutritional and medical support, tailored to the individual needs of each animal.

Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.

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