Co-founder sues elephant sanctuary--We saw this coming a mile away.

The Tennessean • October 7, 2010

A co-founder of a renowned habitat for sick and endangered elephants claims she was forced out and is suing the safe haven and two of its Nashville board members.

Carol Buckley, a founder of The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, is suing for retaliatory termination, breach of contract and visitation rights for her elephant, Tarra, among other things.

Buckley also claims she had her name and art used without her permission, according to a Davidson County Chancery Court lawsuit.

She is suing the sanctuary, board member Janice Zeitlin, and acting chief executive officer Mary Baker.

Buckley and fellow elephant trainer Scott Blais started the sanctuary in 1995. It started off with 100 acres and Buckley’s elephant, Tarra. Since then the sanctuary has grown to 2,700 acres and held 24 elephants.

Buckley, who had been director, CEO and president, was fired on March 17. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages of $500,000 each. She is also seeking visitation rights to her elephant.

Efforts to reach the parties involved were unsuccessful.

Courtesy of John Goodall

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I wish someone could explain this apparent obsession with elephants that the human race seems to have gone over the bend with. I too love them, and think they are one of the most magnificent animals in the world but, what about the other's out there. Elephants birth's are getting to be so common place anymore, to be barely noticeable. Maybe like with Gorilla's, Okapi, etc, now that it isn't such a big deal anymore, folks will cool on the elephant an move to an new "animal 0 the day."