http://www.elephants.com/hawthorn/hawthorn.php
(Click on this link to donate online)

On April 9, 2003, the USDA filed charges against Hawthorn Corporation, for violations of the minimum standards of care established in the Animal Welfare Act.

In November of 2003, in an unprecedented action, the USDA confiscated 58 year old Delhi a year and a half after her feet were soaked in full strength formaldehyde by a Hawthorn employee. She was sent to The Elephant Sanctuary, where she is currently recovering and doing very well.

In March 2004, to settle the lawsuit filed against him by the USDA, Hawthorn owner John Cuneo voluntarily relinquished all 16 of his elephants. In his consent decree, John Cuneo agreed to place his elephants in other facilities by August 15.

The Sanctuary is standing ready to receive as many of the Hawthorn elephants as funding will permit. We have immediate barn space for two elephants, Lota and Misty, both suffering from tuberculosis. We have secured temporary housing for four more of the Hawthorn elephants. Although we would like to rescue all of the Hawthorn elephants, unless additional housing can be secured and the funding raised to build additional facilities we will be unable to accept more than six of the Hawthorn elephants.

We have had great successes in rescuing elephants through the efforts of individuals who cared enough to take action. We are hoping that we can repeat these victories with the Hawthorn elephants – they so richly deserve it.

ILLINOIS 16 RESCUE FUND
funds raised as of July 12th, 2004
$880,005.52

Goal: $1 million by August 15, 2004
Please help rescue the Illinois 16. We must raise one million dollars by August 15, 2004 in order to tell USDA yes, we can take Lota and five other Hawthorn elephants.

The Hawthorn Elephants chained in their Illinois barn.