Bella The Dog Dies; Tarra The Elephant Mourns At Tennessee Sanctuary

[Kadie]

Bella The Dog Dies; Tarra The Elephant Mourns At Tennessee Sanctuary
First Posted: 11/4/11 01:23 PM ET Updated: 11/4/11 01:24 PM ET

Tragedy struck a pair of unlikely friends who had captured the hearts of caretakers and animal lovers.

Tarra the elephant and Bella the dog began their friendship at The Elephant Sanctuary In Tennessee about eight years ago, according to CBS. Last week, Bella was believed to have been attacked by coyotes and died, leaving Tarra to mourn the loss of her best friend.

Bella and Tarra played and ate together, and often had sleepovers in a barn, according to the Leavenworth Times.

Sanctuary caretakers believe Tarra found Bella's body after the attack and carried her to the spot they often spent time together.

"The idea that she couldn't leave that body and brought it back home is just heartbreaking, but so inspiring," Robert Atikinson, CEO of the Elephant Sanctuary, told Nashville's WKRN News 2.

more...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/04/bella-the-dog-dies-tarra-the-elephant-mourns_n_1074531.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003








pics and videos of Bella and Tarra at...

http://www.elephants.com/Bella/Bella.php


:cry:

[NYC_SKP]

1. This isn't good for Tarra, I hope they bring in another great dog or two.

I'd recommend a female border collie.

I hope Tarra hangs in there.

Damn. Sad.

[malaise]

4. Too sad

:cry:

[Cal Carpenter]

12. Yeah, I don't know much about elephants

but from what I read in Nat Geo sometime in the last year they can become very attached to companions and can have a hard time recovering from their loss/absence. Maybe it isn't as bad when they know the fate of their companion, as in this case, but I hope Tarra gets a new friend soon too.

In the story I read, it was a sanctuary for injured/sick/abandoned elephants, and the woman who founded the sanctuary had spent time with one elephant every day. The woman had to leave for a couple weeks and the elephant passed away while she was gone, just stopped thriving. It was one of their first elephants, as I recall, and after this incident they made sure the caretakers rotated so no elephant would get so attached to one person.

I don't know if that applies here at all, but it made me think of it.

[WillParkinson]

2. This is so odd...

I had this story saved on my computer and just watched it this morning. I found myself wondering what was going on with it.

Thank you for the update.

[lunatica]

3. It's heartbreaking to lose your only best friend

I hope the caretakers are able to comfort her.

[KT2000]

5. At one time

Bella was accidentally injured by one of the elephants. She had to stay away while she healed by she and Tarra hung out together with the fence between them anyway. Friends through and through.

[WillyT]

6. Wow...

:cry:

:grouphug:

:kick: & Rec !!!

[beam me up scottie]

7. Bella was a stray, a throw away, she wandered into the enclosure by accident.

And she never left again.

She was wanted, she was loved, she was part of a family and she will be missed.

Humans could learn a lot from animals.

[RamboLiberal]

8. With tears K&R

[swilton]

9. So beautiful!!

RIP Bella :cry:

[Quantess]

10. I love this story.

[goforit]

11. This is life. Can't get any better.

Bella ...God bless

[KittyWampus]

13. I just sent some white light to Tarra and hope she finds love in her life once again.

It is so hard to lose a friend.

[flvegan]

14. Sad story, but come on. They're JUST animals.

Suggesting that they can have even the most basic emotions would have to make folks give pause to how they may or may not treat them. Best to just not go there. Them just being animals and all.