Two elephants, Shirley and Jenny, shared a heartfelt reunion after more than two decades apart. The emotional moment occurred at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, where the pair first saw each other since their days performing together in a circus during the late 1970s.
Captured in touching photographs, the elephants were seen locking trunks, embracing, and playing. They even bent the bars separating their stalls to get closer.
Carol Buckley, director of The Elephant Sanctuary, described the scene as “dramatic.” She noted Jenny’s urgent desire to be near Shirley despite being separated by two stalls.
Shirley and Jenny’s history goes back to their time with the Carson and Barnes Circus in the late 1980s.
Shirley, then in her twenties, took on a nurturing role towards young Jenny, who was just a calf. After their circus days, the two were separated and sent to different zoos, remaining apart for 22 years.
During their reunion, the elephants were observed touching, nestling, exploring each other, and even roaring together.
They spent the day side by side, with Shirley protectively shading Jenny from the sun while she napped.
Their reunion highlighted their deep bond and underscored the emotional intelligence and strong social connections of elephants.
