So on the 19th I was able to visit Two Tails Ranch in Williston, FL and it was amazing! I had to give advance notice as the facility is able to tour by appointment only. I had been there before but this time I was able to get 1080p HD video as well as some good panoramas. For a non-accredited AZA facility, this place is very professional in appearance. From the facility's website:
"Two Tails Ranch was founded in 1984 by Theodore H. Svertesky (1954-1994) and Patricia L. Zerbini. The ranch is the only privately owned elephant facility of its kind. The natural coast of Florida is a prime location for elephants. The climate is almost identical to their native countries. The location of our ranch is surrounded by green grass, live oaks and natural wildlife. It is a very peaceful environment that both animals and guests can enjoy. The ranch was built to board both Asian and African elephants needing temporary or permanent housing, regardless of health or dispositions. Over 250 elephants have passed through the gates of the ranch for a variety of reasons. Some stayed temporarily while their own exhibits were being remodeled or built. Others stayed for retirement, medical needs, behavior problems or even in emergencies after hurricanes destroyed their zoos.
In 2008 Patricia Zerbini decided to start educational programs for private sectors and professionals to learn about elephants. As a result, All About Elephants, Inc. was created.
In private guided tours you will learn and interact with elephants like nowhere else. Our ranch is also home to our Grant Zebras Piere and Tache, African Spurthighed Tortoises Bert And Ernie, Red Foot Tortoises Daisy and Rosy, Ostrich Katherine, Emu Peepers, Camel Louis (Two Tails Ranch website)."
I went there and bought tour tickets (1.5 hours long) for my friend and myself as well as a photo opportunity with Luke, the facility's surgically castrated male elephant. We were directed to the covered amphitheater where Zerbini introduced herself and Luke who did some painting. The paddock he was in can hold up to 14 elephants at a time and in 1993 when zoos were evacuating their elephants to safer locations due to Hurricane Andrew, She answered numerous questions as well as explaining all about elephants, how to train them and answering our numerous questions. After that the people who paid $25 for a photo with Luke got in line while Luke squatted down on all fours and each person came and sat on his left forearm getting their photo. Then everyone who had paid money to feed an elephant were led to a female elephant who accepted treats. Then we were led to the zebra & camel yard where we learned about Dromedary Camels and Grant's Zebras. After that we saw the lemurs and saw the gift shop.
The facility currently houses 7 elephants, one male 6 females. Rajah the one elephant listed on the website passed away 3 months ago. Unfortunately the ranch receives no federal funding or sponsorship and every little bit of donation helps to take care of the animals. The money from tours goes directly to the care and upkeep of the animals. The tour is a must for anyone who wants to see elephants closeup. It's the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can get a photo with a Tusker such as Luke who is 6 tons and 10.5 feet tall. He's still growing and will get larger. The ranch is a big proponent of captive conservation and breeding, & its core message is that without it many species would go extinct and that without wildlife holders like Two Tails, many more species wouldn't be around right now.
For its size Two Tails is very professional and has multiple barriers to prevent the public from getting to close to the Class 1 animals like the elephants without supervision and has great barns and facilities to keep them contained overnight. The gift shop has a variety of things you can buy as well as various artifacts from elephants including training tools, statues, fossils, bones, etc.... I really liked it and wish more people could do this for a living. In return for having this place she can't take any time off as she has a very busy schedule taking care of the elephants and her family who live on site. I would highly recommend visiting because of how rare facilities like this are as well as the fact that most zoos have become protected contact instead of free contact and won't let you interact with elephants anymore. The elephants are well cared for and have access on rotation to a nice big field where they can graze. The ranch grows elephant grass and other food on site to help cut down costs for feeding requirements. I overall loved this place and wish I could volunteer there.
"Two Tails Ranch was founded in 1984 by Theodore H. Svertesky (1954-1994) and Patricia L. Zerbini. The ranch is the only privately owned elephant facility of its kind. The natural coast of Florida is a prime location for elephants. The climate is almost identical to their native countries. The location of our ranch is surrounded by green grass, live oaks and natural wildlife. It is a very peaceful environment that both animals and guests can enjoy. The ranch was built to board both Asian and African elephants needing temporary or permanent housing, regardless of health or dispositions. Over 250 elephants have passed through the gates of the ranch for a variety of reasons. Some stayed temporarily while their own exhibits were being remodeled or built. Others stayed for retirement, medical needs, behavior problems or even in emergencies after hurricanes destroyed their zoos.
In 2008 Patricia Zerbini decided to start educational programs for private sectors and professionals to learn about elephants. As a result, All About Elephants, Inc. was created.
In private guided tours you will learn and interact with elephants like nowhere else. Our ranch is also home to our Grant Zebras Piere and Tache, African Spurthighed Tortoises Bert And Ernie, Red Foot Tortoises Daisy and Rosy, Ostrich Katherine, Emu Peepers, Camel Louis (Two Tails Ranch website)."
I went there and bought tour tickets (1.5 hours long) for my friend and myself as well as a photo opportunity with Luke, the facility's surgically castrated male elephant. We were directed to the covered amphitheater where Zerbini introduced herself and Luke who did some painting. The paddock he was in can hold up to 14 elephants at a time and in 1993 when zoos were evacuating their elephants to safer locations due to Hurricane Andrew, She answered numerous questions as well as explaining all about elephants, how to train them and answering our numerous questions. After that the people who paid $25 for a photo with Luke got in line while Luke squatted down on all fours and each person came and sat on his left forearm getting their photo. Then everyone who had paid money to feed an elephant were led to a female elephant who accepted treats. Then we were led to the zebra & camel yard where we learned about Dromedary Camels and Grant's Zebras. After that we saw the lemurs and saw the gift shop.
The facility currently houses 7 elephants, one male 6 females. Rajah the one elephant listed on the website passed away 3 months ago. Unfortunately the ranch receives no federal funding or sponsorship and every little bit of donation helps to take care of the animals. The money from tours goes directly to the care and upkeep of the animals. The tour is a must for anyone who wants to see elephants closeup. It's the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can get a photo with a Tusker such as Luke who is 6 tons and 10.5 feet tall. He's still growing and will get larger. The ranch is a big proponent of captive conservation and breeding, & its core message is that without it many species would go extinct and that without wildlife holders like Two Tails, many more species wouldn't be around right now.
For its size Two Tails is very professional and has multiple barriers to prevent the public from getting to close to the Class 1 animals like the elephants without supervision and has great barns and facilities to keep them contained overnight. The gift shop has a variety of things you can buy as well as various artifacts from elephants including training tools, statues, fossils, bones, etc.... I really liked it and wish more people could do this for a living. In return for having this place she can't take any time off as she has a very busy schedule taking care of the elephants and her family who live on site. I would highly recommend visiting because of how rare facilities like this are as well as the fact that most zoos have become protected contact instead of free contact and won't let you interact with elephants anymore. The elephants are well cared for and have access on rotation to a nice big field where they can graze. The ranch grows elephant grass and other food on site to help cut down costs for feeding requirements. I overall loved this place and wish I could volunteer there.
