By DAVID DERBYSHIRE

Revelling in retirement: Anne enjoying her temporary home


Caring Daily Mail readers have raised an astonishing £340,000 to create Europe’s first elephant sanctuary – and make a permanent retirement home for Anne.

In only five weeks, the money has poured into the Daily Mail Elephant Sanctuary Appeal to create a purpose-built haven for former circus and zoo animals at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

And today the Mail can reveal plans for the home where Anne will spend the rest of her life. This artist’s impression shows the purpose-built elephant home, heated sandpits, wading areas and play areas where Anne and up to five other rescued elephants will live in peace.


An artist's impression of how her permanent home could look


The plight of Anne, who is 59, touched animal lovers after shocking pictures taken by welfare group Animal Defenders International showed her being beaten by a Romanian groom in her former circus home. The photos were published by the Mail at the end of March.

Celebrities including Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alan Titchmarsh and Bill Oddie backed our campaign, along with Princess Michael of Kent.

Anne’s former owners, Bobby and Moira Roberts, said they were horrified to discover their elephant – whom they regarded as a pet – had been beaten. They agreed to let her move to Longleat.

Anne has settled down well at Longleat where she is getting the care she needs in a temporary 13-acre enclosure.

Steve Mytton, from Longleat, said: ‘We are staggered by the generosity of the public. They have been so giving.


source: dailymail