Unfortunately, Soraida and the vets at FAE cannot save every elephant that visits their hospital.  Tahnee was a 70+-year old elephant Asian Elephant and a permanent resident at FAE.  (Elephants can live for 60-80 years).  On December 5, 2009, Tahnee’s health began to deteriorate. Soraida reported:

Tahnee has saliva dripping from her mouth, does not eat grass just bananas. Has not drank water this morning. She eats and chews very slowly. Sign of old age, Dr. Preecha says.

Dr. Preecha starts an IV drip on Tahnne (December 5, 2009).

Dr. Preecha starts an IV drip on Tahnne (December 5, 2009).

By December 6 the situation was worse:

Tahnee’s hind legs are shaking and she does not want to lie down.  We are afraid she might hurt herself if she collapsed, so dried grass has been scattered around since last night.  Staff is putting up support railing at the Nursery, which has soft sand.

We will continue the [IV] drip, since she has not eaten nor drank.  It’s 12noon.  Her chance of survival is slim.

With tears, Soraida

Soraida with Tahnee on December 6, 2009.

Soraida with Tahnee on December 6, 2009.

On December 7, 2009, Tahnee collapsed. Soraida wrote:

Tahnee collapsed at 1:49 am and left in peace at 2:09am. No words could express how we all are feeling. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend and wherever she might be now, she remains in our hearts.

She will wake no more, Oh never more… Soraida

Tahnee's grave, December 8, 2009.

Tahnee's grave, December 8, 2009.

Written by Windy Borman

Windy Borman is a documentary filmmaker, Narrative Architect, and founder of WB Consulting LLC. After 25+ years on both sides of the camera and the stage — producing films that premiered at Sundance and HBO, interviewing Sir Richard Branson and Governor Gavin Newsom, and directing Ashley Judd's voiceover work — she created the B.R.A.V.E. Framework™: the narrative architecture system that gets the real version of female and non-binary executives from the Green Room to the mic. She works with executives and leaders who are done being the best-kept secret in their industry.

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