African Elephant Toka having fun in the mud!

Winter storms have brought long-awaited rain to the Performing Animal Welfare Society's (PAWS) 2,300-acre ARK 2000 sanctuary in Northern California, filling the lakes, ponds and mud wallows located throughout the African and Asian elephant habitats. On this particular day in early January, 2022, African elephant Toka was having some elephant fun in the mud.
ABOUT TOKA
Toka was born into a wild elephant family in Mozambique but captured at about age two - one of many calves orphaned after their mothers were slaughtered in a government cull. Normally, female elephants remain with their mothers for life. Only four years old, Toka arrived at the Toronto Zoo and was thrust into a sometimes threatening social environment where she spent the next 39 years. After the zoo’s elephant program was ended, Toka was retired to PAWS, along with Thika and the late Iringa, arriving in October 2013.
Toka turns 52 this year (the exact date is unknown because she was born in the wild). It’s easy to identify her - she’s the one with the elegant, long tusks. You can often see her grab a bundle of hay and tuck it under one of her tusks - then snack on the hay as she walks.
CARING FOR ELEPHANTS
PAWS cares for seven elephants, including Lulu who is the oldest African elephant in the United States. (Lulu can be seen standing to the left of Toka in this video.) We estimate it costs $70,000 a year to care for ONE healthy elephant. To donate for the care of the elephants at PAWS, please visit our "Give BIG For PAWS' Elephants" campaign on MightyCause: www.mightycaus...
ABOUT PAWS
Established in 1984, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) operates three captive wildlife sanctuaries in California, including the 2,300-acre ARK 2000 natural habitat refuge where we care for elephants, big cats, bears, and other wild animals rescued or retired from circuses, zoos, roadside attractions, and the exotic “pet” trade. Many of the animals in our care suffered greatly before their rescue: Elephants forced to perform in circuses; Tigers found starving and malnourished; “Pet” bears with serious injuries
At the ARK 2000 sanctuary, captive wild animals enjoy a private, safe haven where they roam expansive, natural habitats with plenty of native vegetation, shady oak trees, and refreshing lakes and pools. The animals can engage in behaviors that are natural to them and just be their wild selves.
The welfare of the animals is our number one priority, with a team of dedicated caregivers and veterinarians looking after their well-being and a veterinary clinic for on-site healthcare. The animals are cared for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and treated with respect and love.
Not only do we rescue captive wild animals, we work hard to end their exploitation through advocacy, protective legislation, and education.
PAWS is a true sanctuary, meaning we do not buy, sell, breed, or trade animals or make them perform. To ensure the animals have the most natural, intrusion-free lives possible, PAWS’ sanctuaries are not open to the public except for a limited number of educational events at ARK 2000.
Thank you for your interest and support! For more information about PAWS, please visit us at pawsweb.org/.
PAWS is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and received an “A” rating from CharityWatch.