Some neighbors are unforgettable, but these neighbors will never forget anything! Meet the elephants of Hohenwald!
Tucked into the Tennessee countryside, The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee gives elephants something precious: a place to spend their lives being elephants. Since 1995, this nonprofit has cared for animals whose earlier lives included zoos and circuses.
Want a peek? The EleCams are your window into their world. These solar-powered cameras show live views of the habitats.
You can also visit the Elephant Discovery Center in downtown Hohenwald. Admission is free.
And who helps keep those big appetites satisfied? Hometown Farm & Feed is the Sanctuary’s main provider of elephant feed and treats.
Meet Our Remarkable Neighbors
Artie
If breakfast had a cheering section, Artie would belong in it. This African male often chortles, especially when breakfast is coming. He has a thick trunk and no tusks, making him easy to recognize. Once he’s out exploring, a mud roll or a small tree to push over can keep him busy.
Edie
Edie has a walk all her own. She lifts her left front leg high, then swings it across toward the right. Sometimes she stands with her back legs crossed. This sociable African elephant enjoys spending time with companions and searching for food. Her favorite rewards include red and green grapes.
Flora
Flora used to be a circus star. Today, she gets to choose her own adventures. This confident African elephant enjoys exploring, grazing, and wallowing in mud. She and Tange have shown their friendship through gentle touches, entwined trunks, and playful sparring.
Mikki
Mikki doesn’t seem interested in letting a good tree go to waste. She knocks trees down and strips off bark and leaves to eat. Energetic and confident, this African elephant also enjoys digging and rolling in mud. She arrived in June 2025, joining her longtime companion, Punch.
Punch
Being an older elephant hasn’t stopped Punch from playing. This Asian elephant kicks large enrichment balls with her back legs and sometimes pushes them into mud wallows. She has shared her life with Mikki for decades, even though they belong to different elephant species.
Nosey
For Nosey, a day can include exploring, mud wallowing, and choosing where she wants to go. After years performing in a circus, those choices matter. A new connection is also growing between Nosey and Tange.
Osh
Meet Osh: one tusk, a huge appetite, and a serious appreciation for mud. Caregivers say this African male finds mud wallows wherever he explores. He also makes soft bubbling sounds when interacting with them. Pineapple and big watermelons are favorite treats.
Tange
Tange knows a handy way to carry lunch. She tucks hay between her trunk and right tusk as she walks. She’s also known for encouraging Flora to play. Recently, she’s been spending time near Nosey, exploring their shared space.
Debbie
Debbie and Ronnie are the kind of companions who make an adventure better together. They arrived at the Sanctuary as a pair in 2006 and enjoy trips to ponds and mud wallows. Watch Debbie’s ears: they often flap one at a time instead of together.
Ronnie
Ronnie often seems to lead the way when she and Debbie explore. She’s lively, curious, and very interested in food. Ponds, mud wallows, and new places give her plenty to investigate.
Hohenwald may be a small town, but it has a big story to tell. Here, people work together so elephants can enjoy good food, patient care, room to roam, and the company of friends. The next time someone asks what makes our community special, we have an answer worth sharing: some of our most remarkable neighbors have trunks.
Photo credits and sources: The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Photos used with permission for Hometown Farm & Feed’s promotion of its support for the Sanctuary.