Rhanee's life has not been easy. Rhanee, the female asian elephant, featured in the high profile Chipperfield trial at the start of 1999, was chained for most of the day by a front and a back leg. To add to this nightmare, she was beaten with shovels, metal bars and whips. The elephant keeper hit Rhanee with almost any weapon that came to hand, sometimes raining down blow after blow. A video camera installed in the barn captured the violence.

Rhanee seemed to dissapear from existence after the case. Then she was found living at the Valwo Zoo in Spain, alone. Female elephants are incredibly social, living with their families for life.

A campaign was launched to send Rhanee to an elephant sanctuary. It was backed by several famous people including Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

As public pressure mounted the zoo started to make small improvements. A small shelter was added, a small pool was dug and filled with water, a companion was introduced, a female elephant called Costa.

The introduction of Costa greatly improved Rhanee's life. The pair appeared to get on well, they would move around together, and touch each other frequently.

Sadly Costa started to go down hill. She lost weight at a rapid pace. She had diffculties with her trunk and walking. She died in May, 2003.

Rhanee is being denied the most basic needs of an elephant: room to roam and companionship. Now is the time to retire her to one of three USA sanctuaries.