The home/office of the founders of Elephant Care International and all elephant books and files were destroyed by Katrina.  Susan and Hank provided the following:

Early this year we made the decision to establish Elephant Care International as a dedicated non-profit organization and to expand our work in elephant healthcare and conservation. Before our Sumatran Elephant Program, New Orleans had been our home, but this year we moved to the more affordable Mississippi Gulf Coast.

In February, we purchased a small 80 year-old cottage in Waveland Mississippi that would serve as our home and headquarters for
Elephant Care International

The tranquil beach nearby was ideal for
healthy daily walks…

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and for Hank’s love of photography.

Monday August 29, Hank’s birthday,
Hurricane Katrina hits

Susan was in the UK consulting on an elephant module under development by Wildlife Information Network (www.wildlifeinformation.org) and visiting her long-time friend and elephant veterinarian Khyne U Mar when Katrina hit. Despite the shocking news of the hurricane she managed to address the masters students at the zoological society of London on Tuesday. 

She received a much anticipated email from Hank Tuesday evening.  After bolting plywood on all windows and doors, Hank had evacuated to Dothan Alabama with the cats, computer, and back-up CD’s.

The headlines the next day told the story:
 

Town wiped off the
map by Katrina

Stunned survivors in Waveland, Mississippi, have nothing left

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