Birthright

All elephants deserve to be living free

To be given back their dignity

To roam the earth as was intended

Not to have their world and life amended

Tortured and beaten so they’ll comply

Happy in zoos, a great big lie

Forced to amuse in a circus realm

Pains and abuses that overwhelm

Broken and sad their daily plight

Standing to sleep throughout the night

Urine and feces beneath their feet

Amid this mess, food they must eat

How long will we accept this wrong

Stealing them from where they belong

Not allowing them to make a choice

Not helping those who have no voice

The largest animals to roam our earth

Taken from their herd at birth

Bought from thieves, just to amuse

Then left to rot in gross abuse

A gentle giant while in its home

Where herds have miles of earth to roam

But locked in a barn, chained to the floor

Frustrations and fears rock their core

We must let go of our greedy ways

Leave the herds to naturally live their days

In the way their life was meant to be

The elephant’s birthright is living free

Sherry Gail Heim

December 15, 2006

Copyright © Sherry Gail Heim 2006

Some of these captured, abused, sick and aging elephants have been blessed to now be living at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA, where they are cared for and given the freedom to make choices for themselves. They

have wide open hills to roam, fresh food and water, spring-fed ponds to swim in, forests to play in, natural vegetation to eat, a warm and open barn to stay in, if they wish to and the freedom to just be elephants .  The door to the barn is never closed and these elephants will never again perform for anyone nor will they be forced to do anything or follow anyone’s schedule or routine.  You can view these beautiful girls grazing, swimming, rolling in mud and sleeping in the grass while living happy and free, via the live “Elecam” at the following site: 

www.elephants.com    then click on the “Elecam” icon It takes a minute to load.

This is a live cam so be sure to check in during daylight hours.  If you don’t see any elephants when you go there, try again a bit later…it is absolutely amazing how these elephants have adapted to their freedom and also to witness the love that they share for one another in an environment that most of us have never had the honor of observing.