Since 1995, The Elephant Sanctuary has provided a home to 36 elephants, right in the heart of Hohenwald, Tennessee. The Sanctuary was established with a mission that still holds true today: to provide a natural habitat refuge developed around the needs of Asian and African elephants, ensuring they receive lifetime care.
In addition to offering a safe and expansive home for its residents, The Sanctuary is dedicated to advancing elephant welfare and conservation. It also educates the public about the complex needs of elephants, as well as the many challenges they face in the wild. Over the years, the sanctuary has grown tremendously. What began as 110 acres has grown into more than 3,000 acres of protected habitat, where 12 elephants now roam and thrive in a setting designed to prioritize their well-being.
Given the nature of their work, The Sanctuary is rooted in sustainability. They first contacted the Lightwave team in 2017 to discuss their energy needs and goals, and we worked with them to install a 39.26kW system at the sanctuary’s Discovery Center building. Two years later we added an additional 7.035kW expansion totaling 46.925kW solar system for the center.
Later, Lightwave installed solar and battery back-up systems on their barns at the sanctuary as well as 11 solar-powered cameras, known as “EleCams.” These cameras don’t just provide a way for their team to monitor the elephants but also allow supporters of the sanctuary to get glimpses of the elephant’s daily lives. Because we are a full solar and battery service provider, our Operations & Management team works closely with the Elephant Sanctuary to keep their systems well maintained to this day.
“Working with Joe and The Elephant Sanctuary has been an incredibly rewarding experience for LightWave over the years. As the facility continues to grow, we are proud to support its evolution by strengthening grid resiliency and ensuring reliable power for critical operations, even under the most challenging conditions. Our commitment remains focused on helping safeguard the sanctuary’s essential processes so they can continue their vital mission without interruption.”
– Evan Fitzgerald / Project Manager
The Elephant Sanctuary is closed to the public as the habitats are maintained specifically for elephants and are not open for tours and/or viewing. The best way to see the elephants is through the solar-powered live streaming cameras on their website. For visitors who want to learn about the many ways elephants shape our world and why they should be protected, the Elephant Discovery Center offers hands-on, self-guided exhibits and educational programming.
Support their cause by donating to their organization or by signing up as a volunteer!
