Friday, 16 May 2014

"After the Cameras Went Away"
Thika, African Elephant at PAWS

As you know, I have been an avid supporter of PAWS, the Performing Animals Welfare Society, and I have blogged about the sanctuary under the leadership of Pat Derby and Ed Stewart.

After a long struggle, last year in October PAWS welcomed 3 aging African Elephants into the herd at PAWS ARK 2000, a 250,000 acre  sanctuary in the rolling hills of the Sierra Foothills.  These 3 elephants made their way via transport vehicles 4000 km across the continent from Toronto, Canada, to San Andreas, California, and have since settled in nicely.  A recent video captures Thika enjoying a mud bath, and compared to their small enclosures at the Zoo, you can see how happy she is in her new home.  I think anyone who loves animals will enjoy the story of the cross country move of these 4 ton giants and their new life at PAWS ARK 2000.

I will be back at PAWS end of March and again in October, and look forward to seeing these new arrivals and say Hello again to the other elephants that are so dear to my heart.  You can join me for those visits in my Photo Tour [see below].

Please watch the linked video "When the Cameras Went Away" and listen to Ed Stewart talk about PAWS and the happy ending for Thika, Iringa and Toka, the Toronto elephants who now can live out their lives walking freely on the green hills of the Sierra Foothills.

Til next time,
Meggi
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The Fifth Estate Returns to PAWS

Canada's premier investigative news magazine program, The Fifth Estate, returned to PAWS' ARK 2000 captive wildlife sanctuary this month to shoot an episode for its special season finale, "After the Cameras Went Away."

The Fifth Estate's investigative team had accompanied elephants Iringa, Toka and Thika on their trip from the Toronto Zoo to PAWS last October, documenting every step of their journey. In this special follow-up segment - which features an interview with PAWS president Ed Stewart - The Fifth Estate journalist Bob McKeown reports on how the elephants have adapted since arriving in sunny California.

Special Photo Tour

Although the sanctuary is not open for public, there are special fundraising days with educational tours that allow us to get a glimpse of the life of these magnificant animals.  Please click here for my October Photo Tour "Seeing the Elephants" at PAWS and join to learn more about the plight of all captive and performng animals.