{{!gwi}}

The PenDot road sign sculpture garden in Meadville.
I have posted these pics before, but I am sure some of you have not seen them. Google for more pics, info and websites about it.

In Maine we visited the Hope Elephants. A group there has taken in two retired circus elephants that are 40+ years old, and they provide a heated barn and a few acres for them to live on, and use them as a means to educate people about elephants in general and about the ongoing crisis elephants are facing in Africa.

Sunscreen on her sensitive nose:

Having the elephant do range of motion stretching exercises as physical therapy for their arthritic legs.

Soaking a foot in an iodine bath to treat a minor infection.

Cyclist: Ireland

The giraffes at the Baltimore Zoo.

Thank you for the Hope elephant pictures, Bob. I didn't know this group exists, & am happy for these two old ladies.

One of the guys that runs the facility was an elephant handler and a juggler in a circus decades ago, and even worked with these two elephants at one point. Since then he became a veterinarian. They said that when he met the elephants again in Oklahoma, before moving them to Maine they recognized him even though they hadn't seen him in many years, and were excited to see him.

If anyone is interested in learning more there is a website for the facility:
http://hopeelephants.org/