Lota is one of the "Hawthorn 16" who was seized by the USDA and finally turned over to the Elephant Sanctuary in Nov 2004. To read about their story click on : http://www.elephants.com/lota/rescueLota.php

http://www.elephants.com/lota/lota_diary.htm

February 9, 2005
For anyone reading this diary entry, please protect your heart as you read this very sad news.

Early this morning our beloved Lota passed away. At 3:00 a.m. Carol was with Lota giving her some medication and a ten minute dose of oxygen. There was no obvious change in Lota's condition to indicate that she would die shortly. In our culture death is equated with pain, but with Lota that was simply not the case.

After her treatments Lota leaned her magnificent head against the front of the corral as Misty nestled in beside her. They both appeared quite comfortable and Lota started to drift off to sleep, a standing sleep that we call a cat nap. A short time after Carol left, Lota lay down for the final time. Misty silently stood over her dear friend, where she remained until staff came to move Lota to her gravesite.

No amount of preparation can make such a loss bearable. Misty and all of the staff are struggling with the need to be happy for Lota; she is finally free. After years of suffering from TB, Lota deserves peace. We had all hoped that peace would come in the form of recovery and a long life at the Sanctuary. Sadly, her condition was too advanced to allow that dream to come true.

Under the constant watch of her caregivers Lota never showed signs of stress beyond her labored breathing. She accepted the oxygen without resistance and draped her trunk against her caregivers in a gentle caress as the oral medications were given. She left this life with the same grace and dignity that she lived it. There is no doubt that Lota has had a profound impact on thousands of people by bringing an awareness to the plight of captive elephants that only she could.

Lota has earned a special place in the next world and unquestionably in the history books of mankind.