This is a story about a friendship between two unlikely animals.
An elephant named Tarra,
and a dog named Bella.
Tarra is an Asian elephant from Burma, born in 1974. Soon after Tarra came to the United States, a ban was put on Asian Elephants as they were considered an endangered species. For the next 20 years, Tarra entertained audiences all over the world in circuses, amusement parks, zoos and videos. Once she got tired of entertaining, an Elephant Sanctuary was opened in Hohenwald, TN and Tarra was the first resident. This sanctuary is now the nation's largest natural habitat which has been developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants.
Elephants usually come to the sanctuary alone, but soon match up with another elephant for companionship. (All are females).
Except Tarra.
Tarra matched up with Bella. Or vice versa. Bella first showed up at the Sanctuary in the Fall of 2003. There are other stray dogs wandering the Sanctuary, but they tend to stay away from the elephants.
Not Bella.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that when she was found on some newly acquired property, she was guarding a bulldozer. Then she moved on to a four-wheeler, and finally Tarra.
The two were fast friends, albeit, an odd couple. They ate together, played together, and sometimes even slept together.
Watch this video to see them in action.
In April 2007, Bella had a spinal cord injury and had to spend a few weeks immobile in the office. Tarra stood guard nearby. She missed her pal. Watch this video of their reunion. But beware......Bella just passed away recently, and Tarra can not be consoled.
There is a book and a video about Tarra and Bella available on the Sanctuary's website. Also, more information about the sanctuary can be found there. Have a look around. And here is a tribute to Bella.
I hope that Bella and Tarra will reunite in heaven. They made quite the pair, didn't they?
15 comments:
Oh damn. I was enjoying this until I tried to watch the second video was 'Currently unavailable. Please try again later.' ... Well, I will, I need to know the ending.
Oh, Pat. Such beauty and pain together in this amazing story of companionship.
A wonderful story but as with many soul matings, this also has a very sad ending.
sad to lose friends, even in the natural world...cool how they connected...
It's true .... love knows no bounds. As I sit here cuddling my little Emmy and know that I will be feeling her loss in the near future, I can relate.
Okay, I'll confess. I can't watch. I'll cry.
I watched and did cry! What a beautiful story.
So sweet! Things like this always get to me--such devotion.
Ohnoooo...how Sad!!!!
Yes, I need an hanky!!!
hughugs
True friendships aren't decided on race, color, creed, or even types of animals. They loved each other just because they loved each other. I hope that Tarra can be consoled in some way.
I love it when I hear stories like this, love definitely has no boundaries.
So sweet and so sad!
An amazing story.
Aw geez! This is great! Aren't animals just the best???? Perhaps Bella is over the rainbow bridge playing with my guys until Tara can come and join, eh?
(going to wipe my eyes now!)
I got to see both videos. That is the sweetest story! Where do you find these things? I really enjoyed it - - - as much as you can enjoy something with a sad ending. That's the trouble with animals - - - you lose your heart to them and it gets broken when you lose them - - - but the heartbreak is still worth the years of love.
It would have been better if Tarra had been able to save her. A great story of friendship nonetheless
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