Even in the midst of our intense grieving we are overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and sympathy from all around the world. We honestly did not know the extent to which so many were touched at their core by what Dr. Jim created, and how many of you have come to care for Rosie and Opal. We thank you all deeply.
Why are Rosie and Opal going back to Oklahoma?
Dr. Jim devoted all his life energy over the past 3 years to Hope Elephants, to caring for Rosie and Opal and educating the thousands of children and adults who are connected to them. Our plan from the outset was that, as we became financially and organizationally stable, we would invite other qualified handlers and veterinarians to come to Hope and help Jim. But Jim always told us that if anything happened to him before we could do that, the elephants needed to go back to their herd in Oklahoma. We just never believed this would come to pass. Here are the facts:
• The Endangered Ark Foundation in Oklahoma owns Rosie and Opal. Hope Elephants is leasing
them and our lease specifies that if they need to leave Hope they must be returned to their owners.
• The Endangered Ark Foundation is not a circus. Rosie and Opal are not going back to the circus. They are and will remain retired. They will be in a very good facility with the herd of ‘sisters’ they have known for decades. Jim spoke very highly of the level of veterinary and other care the elephants receive at Endangered Ark.
• The people who run the Endangered Ark are heartbroken too. We have already agreed that Rosie and Opal will continue to receive the special care and therapies that Jim pioneered. We are discussing how these therapies can be extended to other elephants in the herd in Oklahoma.
• With Jim’s passing, Hope Elephants does not have a full-time qualified handler and veterinarian to take care of Rosie and Opal. Our permits to keep the elephants are issued to Jim as the responsible person; so without him we cannot keep the girls in Hope for now.
Will Rosie and Opal come back to Hope?
Thousands of people have volunteered and contributed time and money to create Hope Elephants. This was Jim’s lifelong dream, and it became a reality through the passion and love of so many of you. Those of us who are left cannot let this dream die. The people who are responsible to keep Jim’s legacy alive are determined to do that. Please give us some time to mourn and to regroup. Rosie and Opal are mourning too, and we need to do what is best for them, for Jim’s family, and to fulfill our legal obligations. That is what we are thinking about night and day. We are looking for ways to continue our work, and to bring Rosie and Opal back if we can do that.
The Hope Elephants mission is to care for elephants, to educate people about them, and to save them from extinction. Please remember that in the entire USA there are several hundred elephants. Poachers kill several hundred elephants every week for their ivory. Jim was tireless and selfless; he lived for the people he loved and the animals he loved. Hope Elephants will keep that love alive. Thank you.
It is hard to say bye to these two beautiful creatures after reaching a lot of people in the mid-coast area. We hope these creatures can come back to Maine an reach more people and continue Jim's mission.
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