Hope For Elephants: Retired Circus Elephants Find New Home

Rosie and Opal the elephants have become ambassadors of their kind to help teach people that all elephants deserve a little hope. Via GlobalPost

Hope, Maine has a population of 1,310. And two elephants. 

The tiny coastal New England town recently became the home of Rosie and Opal, two 40-something retired circus elephants, who came to live and work with their old trainer, Dr. Jim Laurita. 

Laurita, a long-time veterinarian, met the elephant pair in the '70s during his time performing in the circus with his brother Tom. Along the way, he and Tom fell in love with the animals they worked with, and promised one day to take care of them. 

Laurita made good on that promise this month when he brought the middle-aged ladies to their new home in Maine, with the understanding that Rosie and Opal would become ambassadors of their kind to help teach people that all elephants deserve a little, well, Hope.

Both Rosie and Opal will receive special care for their needs. Rosie has what is known as suprascapular nerve paralysis, which causes her to limp like this: 

It was caused by other elephants pushing her around in her old environment, according to Laurita. This made it all the more important to find an elephant that would mesh well with Rosie, which is where Opal comes in. 

Opal also has nerve damage, however Laurita is still unsure to what extent. What he does know is that the nerve damage to her trunk makes it difficult for her to bring food fully to her mouth. Laurita uses what he calls the 'trunk test' to help assess her needs: 

At Hope Elephants, both Rosie and Opal will receive specialized care for all of their needs, including acupuncture and maybe even one day a water treadmill.

All of this care will help the elephants to educate visitors of the plight of all elephants, which right now is nearing dire circumstance. According to the World Wildlife Federation, Asian elephants like Rosie and Opal are in danger. Over the last 60 to 75 years, the Asian elephant population has seen a 50 percent drop in population worldwide due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.

But luckily this pair will live the rest of their days in a custom-built 3,000-square-foot facility — plus a hearty yard where they can just be elephants — filled with every amenity a retiree from the circus could ask for, including heated dirt floors, enough hay to stuff your face with and the love and affection of all 1,310 members of the community. Admirers near and far are welcome to visit the pair to learn about the species, and hopefully to become inspired to work to help preserve it. 

GlobalPost recently visited Laurita and his "girls" at the Hope Elephants facility. 

To learn more about the Hope Elephants and donate to their mission, visit their website here.