By Catherine Doyle

Not too different from those social animals we call humans, elephants are choosy about their companions. Because elephants are such highly social beings, it is often assumed they would naturally get along with any other elephants in captive situations. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. While some captive elephants may form social bonds, usually pairing with one other elephant, others may simply tolerate one another. In the worst scenarios, they may be entirely incompatible.

All captive elephants have a degree of psychological “baggage”, which may be evidenced by their behavior. For example, Lulu (pictured) like other wild caught elephants, likely saw her mother and other family members killed when she was captured as a calf. She was then transported overseas to a zoo where she was dominated and bullied by another elephant for many years, causing even more trauma. The elephant would block her movement and access to food; she literally controlled Lulu’s life. When Lulu first came to PAWS she was so distressed she would cower in the presence of other elephants, shrinking low to the ground. By working with Lulu and slowly introducing her to her new companions, she was able to gain the confidence to socialize with them. Today, Lulu is considered to be the “lead” elephant in a group that includes Toka and Maggie. They comfortably spend their days together, foraging and exploring their spacious habitat.

Toka and Thika also had endured a dysfunctional social environment. While Toka was taken from the wild and sold into captivity, Thika was born into a space-restricted environment in which at least some of the elephants were incompatible, resulting in injuries and even death. (Social stress is known to be exacerbated by lack of space.) Thika displayed aggression toward other elephants, including Toka, with whom she made the trip to PAWS in 2013, along with Iringa who later passed away due to longtime foot and joint disease. Thika’s attitude towards Toka has not softened since coming to PAWS and although they can see and hear each other in the barn at night, these two elephants spend their days in nearby, but separate habitats.

At first, Thika (pictured) seemed unsure of what she should be doing in an environment that is so different from the conditions in which she grew up. She did not forage as long as the other elephants did (who were all born in the wild); instead, she would pace. For Thika’s well-being, the decision was made to introduce her to Mara, who is PAWS’ longest resident and a very confident elephant. The pairing of two worked beautifully. Soon, Thika was following Mara like an eager little sister. Today, Thika does not pace as she did before, and she can be seen actively foraging, dust bathing, and exploring her spacious habitat late into the day. As for Toka, she easily integrated with Maggie and Lulu.

At PAWS’ ARK 2000 sanctuary, the elephants have options – albeit ones that we create for them. Unlike other captive facilities where elephants may be forced together on display despite their social differences, separately rotated through exhibit areas, or, as in circuses, chained in place for hours on end, we let the elephants tell us what they need. We have the space and time to accommodate them, and, as PAWS co-founder, the late Pat Derby used to say, we work on “elephant time.” This means the elephants dictate the pace of things. There is no pressure to get elephants on display or make them perform. At the sanctuary, the elephants determine the tempo and activities of their day, amid the quiet and beauty of nature.

Donations Will be Matched up to $54,700!

We need your help to raise $50,000 (or more!), in 24 hours to feed and care for the elephants, big cats, bears, and other wild animals at PAWS' three sanctuaries. Rescued or retired from circuses, zoos, and the exotic "pet" trade, today these animals roam spacious natural habitats where they can just be wild animals again.

The Big Day of Giving starts at midnight on Thursday, May 6, and runs for 24 hours. The event helps Sacramento-area non-profits, but you can give no matter where you live – and you can give early by clicking on the donate button below!

Thanks to matching gifts from generous friends of PAWS, online donations made on the Big Day of Giving website will be doubled up to $54,700!

Please encourage friends, family and colleagues to donate, and share widely on social media.

PAWS thanks these special friends for their matching gifts: Margo Duckett, Colonel, USAF NC (ret) ($5,000), "Save the World Fund of the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation" on behalf of Sunni Burns ($200), Theresa Corrigan ($1,000), Kerr Family Foundation ($5,000), Allene and Jerome Lapides Foundation ($3,500), Laura Dowling and Doug Davis ($2,000), Deb Hoffman ($10,000), Dr. Kristina Wiley, DDS ($1,000), Sandi Monticelli ($10,000), and three special donors who wish to remain anonymous ($17,000).

and the Big Cat Pet Trade

PAWS continues to strongly support the federal Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R.263/S.1210). The bill would ban the private ownership of big cats such as lions and tigers and restrict public contact with these animals, putting an end to cub petting operations and their endless breeding of big cats for profit.

PAWS cares for tigers who were rescued from the exotic “pet” trade and defunct cub petting facilities – including Kim, Claire, Bigelow, Morris, Nimmo, Rosemary, Sawyer and Wilhelm. We need your help to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act and ensure that big cats no longer have to suffer for entertainment and profit.

Important update: The Big Cat Public Safety Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate (S. 1210), sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Richard Burr (R-NC).

1.     Send a message

Please ask your U.S. Senator to co-sponsor the Big Cat Public Safety Act, S. 1210. (Always include the bill number in your communications.) Locate your U.S. Senator here. Click on the link which will take you to their home page. Locate “Contact” on the menu and send your message via the online form provided there.

If you have not yet contacted your U.S. representative, please ask them to co-sponsor the Big Cat Public Safety Act, H.R. 263. If your representative is one of the co-sponsors of the bill (check here), please thank them. Locate your U.S. Representative here. Follow the same steps as above.

Sample message: I am a constituent who very strongly supports the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 263/S. 1210) to end the exploitation and suffering of captive big cats in our country and protect the public. I urge you to co-sponsor this important bill.

2.    Make a call

3. Share. Use social media to encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to take action.

Colorado – SB 21-135, introduced by Reps. Joann Ginal and Rachel Zenzinger in the House and Sens. Monica Duran and Meg Froelich in the Senate, would prohibit the use of certain wild animals in a traveling act.

Status: Bill passed the Senate on a 20-14 vote. House passed an amended version of the bill that the Senate rejected because the amendment was unfavorable to the bill. A conference committee has been requested to work out a compromise. Follow progress of the bill here. Sign up for email alerts from Colorado Voters for Animals here.

Action: Watch Colorado Voters for Animals' Facebook page for any new actions.

Massachusetts – HD 2035 (House – introduced by Reps. Lori Ehrlich and Bradley Jones, Jr.) and SD 1246 (Senate – introduced by Sen. Bruce Tarr) would prohibit the use of elephants, big cats (including hybrids), bears, primates, and giraffes in traveling shows.

Status: Not yet referred to committee. Follow progress of HD 2035 here and SD 1246 here. See the MSPCA information page for this bill here and sign up for alerts.

Action: None at this time.

New York – Assembly Bill 5542, sponsored by Asm. Steve Englebright, would prohibit the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses or traveling animal acts.

Status: Bill referred to Committee on Environmental Conservation. Follow progress of the bill here.

Action: If your Assembly member sits on the Committee on Environmental Conservation (see list here), contact them in support of this bill.

Nevada – SB 344, sponsored by Sen. James Ohrenschall, would end the private ownership of dangerous wild animals such as big cats, bears, elephants, wolves, and primates.

Status: Recently passed the Senate and now moves to the Assembly. Referred to Assembly Committee on Natural Resources. Follow progress of the bill here.

Action: Please contact your Assembly member and urge them to pass SB 344. Locate your state legislator here. It is especially important for you to contact your Assembly member if they sit on the Committee on Natural Resources. See list of committee members here.

Texas – House Bill 1941, sponsored by Rep. Vikki Goodwin, would prohibit the use of certain devices to train or control the behavior of an elephant.

Status: Referred to Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Follow progress of the bill here. You can sign up for government bill and meeting alerts here.

Action: If your state House member sits on the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence (see list here), please contact them in support of this bill.

Texas – House Bill 3710, sponsored by Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, would prohibit direct contact with certain captive wild animals, including certain big cats, elephants, bears, and nonhuman primates.

Status: Referred to Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Testimony was taken and a decision is still pending. Follow progress of the bill here. You can sign up for government bill and meeting alerts here.

Action: If your state House member sits on the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism (see list here), please contact them in support of this bill.

If you are looking for a unique way to broaden your students’ online learning experience, PAWS can provide a guest speaker for your college or high school classes. Topics can range from an overview of our sanctuary work to more in-depth discussions of captive wild animal issues, ethics, and care. Contact PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy at cdoyle@pawsweb.org for more information. Speakers are provided at no charge.

Did you know that PAWS has an Amazon Wish List? We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. We have an ongoing need for many of the products listed. Click here to review the items and donate. You can also review “wish list” items that are needed but not listed on Amazon. Click here for that list.

Sara L. Nickerson: one bottle Renal Essentials, 60#. Carol Bognar: one box of gloves, L. Susan Stangland: one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#. P. Banchik-Rothschild: one box Denamarin, 30#. Nancy Gordon: four 8 oz. EicosaDerm. Elke Riesterer: one Probiocin, one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#. Marcia Pelka: one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Trevor and Karen Muench: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; one Probiocin. Jane G. Droogsma: two 5 lb. bags of Missing Link; two boxes of gloves, M; three bottles of CosequinDS, 132#; two packages of AA batteries, 24# ea. Victoria Burnett: three bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#; one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#; five Probiocin. Anonymous Donors: three bags of peanuts in the shell.