Carol Buckley is the author of Travels with Tarra, which tells the story of her life with one elephant and her decision to co-found the Elephant Sanctuary with Scott Blais. The Elephant Sanctuary now provides a home for 19 elephants on 2,700 acres, and is making room for more elephants who need to live in a place just for elephants.

"Irresistible is not a word we . . . use lightly, but this book truly is hard to put down."
—Parents' Press
". . . some of the story's most engaging images depict Shirley frolicking about with her new herd. Even youngest readers will be able to intuit the anxiety Shirley faces on her first day in the wild, much like being the new kid in school."
—Publishers Weekly
"This amazing book reveals the complexity and intelligence of elephants. Jenny and Shirley's story shows us the strength of the bonds between individual elephants, their amazing memories, and their ability to feel and express intense emotions. From studies of wild, free-living elephants we know enough about their social needs to realize that we can no longer justify the practice of keeping elephants on their own or splitting up individuals who have formed bonds. I hope the example of Jenny and Shirley will make people stop and think before capturing elephants in the wild, wrenching them from their close companions, and then moving them here and there as if they were artwork on display."
—Cynthia Moss, Amboseli Trust for Elephants, Langata, Nairobi

emotional needs of captive, exotic animals, and it leads us to question what their "rights" in our society ought to be. Carol Buckley, Scott Blais, and others whose lifework is connected to the well-being of animals, say it's time to change the way we humans relate to animals. Their idea is that people should think of themselves as "animal caregivers" rather than as "animal owners." Then, other attitudes will change and the result will be that animals everywhere will lead better lives.
Just For Elephants will help inspire classroom conversations about:
What is known about the emotions of animals
Friendships between animals
Matching the emotional and physical needs of animals to their care, if they are in captivity
The concept of a "natural-habitat sanctuary"
Endangered animals and animal rights
Jobs that involve the care and protection of animals
The culture of zoos and circuses
Activities:
Visit the website of the Elephant Sanctuary. There are many activities available there which are designed to teach children all about elephants.
Have students learn about how elephants live and are cared for in their native Asian and African countries.
Have students discuss what they can do to promote the well-being of exotic animals in captivity.
In many states there are laws pending that would prohibit the use of elephants and other large exotics in traveling circuses. Have students discuss why this is being proposed and what they think about it.