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But the story of Shirley intrigued me. She had spent 20 years in Louisiana without any elephant companionship. For elephants this is very difficult because they are social beings. Shirley had no one but her human keeper.
Solomon, her black keeper was glad that the owners decided they couldn't afford to keep Shirley any longer and were letting Carol and Scott take her to their sanctuary.
On the appointed day Shirley was hesitant in going into the large van. After 20 years, she had had enough of vans, trains, and road travel. Even Solomon could not lead Shirley with her leg chains into the van. Finally, they had to use a winch to get her in. I think had she had some inkling that they were taking her to "Shangri-la," she would have "flown" into the van.
It was a long 14-hour trip-- traveled in the cool of night. When they finally gotthere, Solomon hosed her for the last time and said --that he didn't know who was the first to put leg chains on Shirley, but he would be the LAST to take them off!
They all watched as Shirley after 20 years was to meet her first elephant --Tarra who had come into the barn first. None of them knew what to expect. Both elephants came together and extended their trunks to each other through the bar divider. What a wonder for Shirley, but yet an even greater one was awaiting her.
Later that night- loud trumpeting sounds were heard coming from the barn because Shirley saw Jenny -the last elephant she knew and remembered. After twenty years of separation, each remembered and recognized the other, and now they would never be separated again as they walked out together into the lush farm land like two peas in a pod.
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